Piracy is the illegal or unauthorized use of intellectual property that belongs to another person or group. Forms of intellectual property include motion pictures, music compositions and recordings, computer software, television productions, symbols, and inventions. Piracy is a violation of the rights that owners have over their creative products.
Examples of piracy may include the unauthorized copying and distribution of a film, song, electronic game, or computer program; the use of another person’s ideas, designs, or creations without permission; or the widespread distribution of materials obtained or created illegally. New methods of piracy have emerged since the 1990’s, as the Internet and digital technology have made it easier for people to copy and distribute intellectual property.
Nearly all developed nations have laws that prohibit piracy and protect intellectual property. The laws differ from one country to another, though international agreements have set some common guidelines. Copyright, patent, and trademark laws prohibit the copying and distribution of many materials, even in small quantities. Separate antipiracy laws may apply to large-scale piracy operations. In many countries, customs agents help enforce antipiracy laws and guard against the entry of pirated goods across national borders.
Traditionally, the term piracy refers to robbery and other crimes committed at sea. For information on this form of piracy, see Pirate .
See also Copyright ; Intellectual property ; Patent ; Trademark .
