Software piracy means duplicating and selling software illegally. It can take many forms, including unlicensed copying, counterfeit products and hard-disk loading. We know that in many cases there is no intention to use software illegally. That's why we want to raise awareness of software piracy, and how to prevent it.

Did you know?
Individuals and criminal gangs who pirate software can face criminal prosecution. For example, in March 2003, a notorious software counterfeiter, David Stanley, received a prison sentence of four and a half years for copying and distributing fake versions of Microsoft software and pirated music. During 2002, Microsoft investigated more than 2,200 leads. There were 76 criminal prosecutions of businesses and individuals.

Why buy from WStore
As a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner with the Licensing Solutions Competency we are able to provide your organisation with the advice needed to ensure you are correctly licensed. WStore buy only from one of Microsoft’s Authorised Distributors within the UK which ensure the goods we sell on to our customers are genuine.

Forms of Software Piracy
Software piracy is the illegal reproduction and distribution of software applications, whether for business or personal use. There are many different forms of software piracy including the following:

End User Copying
End-user copying is a common type of piracy. It happens when individuals and businesses make copies of software without a licence to do so. People may copy a program and give it to their friends without realising that this is software piracy.

Sometimes an organisation will install software on more computers than its licences allow. This is called under-licensing, and it's also a form of piracy. Quite aside from the financial harm this causes, it puts users at risk because they are using software without a licence.

Counterfeiting
Counterfeiting means duplicating and distributing imitation software on a large scale. This is a sophisticated activity and has close links to organised crime. It is extremely difficult to tell the difference between genuine and counterfeit software, and the Internet has made it easier for buyers to be deceived. When you buy online, you cannot see your goods until they are delivered - if they arrive at all.

Hard-Disk Loading
This happens when builders of computer systems sell PCs with unlicensed software pre-installed. These dealers use one copy of a software program but install it illegally on many machines. The original disks and the documents that should come with the PC are often missing or incomplete. If they are supplied, they frequently turn out to be counterfeit.

Mischanneling
Mischanneling happens when software is distributed under special discount licences (such as to high-volume customers, computer manufacturers or academic institutions) and then redistributed to others who do not qualify for the licences.

Fake Licensing
Fake licences are loose End-User Licence Agreements (EULAs) that would normally be found in a retail packaged box but which have been sold on their own as fake licences. They are worthless pieces of paper and do not provide a licence to use the software.

Internet Piracy
The Internet is often used to distribute illegal software because it is relatively easy to create a seemingly legitimate business online and then sell pirated software.

‘Grey Market’ Software
It is illegal to sell or use grey-market software. Grey-market refers to software that is supposed to be on sale outside the European Economic Area and Switzerland but is sold within these boundaries.