Crime That Pays(Pretty Well

Too)
Student ID# I2014422166
Name: Atif Rao Muhammad
Submitted to : Xiaoping Xu

Q.1:Collectivism and individualism, democracy and totalitarianism, rule of

law and rule of man: What do these concepts say about the IPRs of software
and the legitimacy of its protection? Different attitudes towards IPR

Generally speaking Individualism, democracy and rule of law usually support the
concept of Intellectual Property Rights as rules in these systems ensures the
protection of individual rights and property". For example, in USA the software

is automatically protected by federal copyright law from the moment of its

creation. Any illegal usage may cause the user fine as well as jail.
Whereas Collectivism, totalitarianism and rule of man are not so strict on
this issue as these systems prefer social welfare on individual gains.
Therefore new ideas or technologies are public goods for everybody to
share freely. Cultural Esteem rather than material gain is the incentive for
creativity.
Although both approaches are supporting IPRs from different perspectives
but still no part of the world is exempted from piracy and it is rising day
by day. This is largely due to accepted legitimacy of piracy i.e. Bandits
are everywhere

Q.2:What is the relationship among governments, institutions, organizations,

and companies in developing legal means to fight software piracy?

The governments, institutions, organizations and

companies can play a vital role in fight against software
piracy because standards of software piracy are quite
clear and mutually agreed.
However it requires mutual coordination i.e. governments
should provide legal protection to intellectual property,
companies should file cases against firms using illegal
software, institutions and organizations should induce the
governments to set standard (through global
agreements)to protect IPRs according to global principles
not to local standard.

Q.3:Can the software industry control software piracy without government

help? Why would the software industry dislike greater government
regulation?

The software industry can control software piracy to a

limited extent without government involvements.
it can take following steps
To create awareness among public about the illegal
copying of software.
To introduce some technical barriers which hinder the use
of software.
To take strong legal actions against the Pirated software
producers and users.
It needs to build up some robust technical and business
barriers to stop piracy without government help.

Continued:Q.3 (why Software industry dislike

government involvement)?

Software industry sometimes dislike

government involvement because it may lead
to loss of company sovereignty.(government
may direct the industry to adopt some
regulatory measures regarding prices etc .)
Greater government involvement some time
leads to obstruct software competition at local
level as well as global level.

How do you think customers in wealthier countries versus those in poorer

countries justify software piracy?

Law of Demand:
The customers who lives either in wealthier countries or poor

countries they tend to buy pirated product due to cheaper price.

Common Property VS Private Property:

Consumers in high-theft countries do not understand the differences

between the pirated and the original software. They consider that any
property as being common to all and existing for the benefit of all.
On the other hand, people in the low-theft countries well understand
the concept of the intellectual property rights. They understand that
there is a reason behind the copyright act. Another thing is that, the
political and the legal system of the low-theft countries are far
stronger than that of in a high-theft country

Continued..

Think you have to Cheat to Survive

Owing to media expansion the technology has
allured people of both rich and poor countries.
Since the rich can buy high-tech products and
software whereas it is very difficult for people
living in poor countries therefore to buy an
original one. Therefore they tend to buy pirated
software so as to improve productivity/quality
of life.

Q.5 Can you envision a scenario where companies and consumers

reach a relationship that eliminates the profitability of piracy
whether it is for software, music, movies and other digital products.

It is quite unlikely that companies and consumers

can reach such scenario or far from reality because
each country has its own legal, cultural, social and
economic dynamics therefore enforcement of global
treaties without considering these aspect cannot be
helpful.
However the steps like selling products at lower
price to poor countries likelow price edition books
in low income countries. Or offering MS office at
low price may lead to reduce piracy.