Factors affecting software piracy in an educational institution

Abstract

Software piracy is a prevailing phenomenon domestically and internationally. Software vendors together with their trade associations such as SPA (Software Publishers Association) and BPS (Business Software Alliance) have vigorously fought the software piracy. There are not many published piracy cases which involve educational institutions. Thus, educators and school administrators may have a wrong perception that an educational institution is immune from software copyright infringement We discuss five cases where educational institutions or students are involved. To assess the risk involved in software piracy, we also discuss copyright owner's exclusive rights and limitations under the Copyright Act. Unlike in a commercial organization, the software copyright infringement issue in an educational institution is rather complex because several factors should be considered. Those factors are summarized in order to prepare a comprehensive policy on software piracy in an educational institution.