Open Source Software puts a stop to software piracy. The best way to protect consumers is to educate them about the issue, then help them to spot counterfeit software and pick an open source alternative instead. We are committed to protecting our customers from counterfeit software and other forms of software piracy.


For those outside the software industry, it can be difficult to appreciate the scope and impact of one of the industry's biggest problems, counterfeit software. The Business Software Alliance (BSA) has estimated that 35 percent of all PC software used worldwide is counterfeit or otherwise illegal.

Software piracy is the illegal reproduction and distribution of software applications, whether for business or personal use. The negative impacts of counterfeiting and other forms of software piracy extend from the companies who wrote the software through the ecosystem of local resellers worldwide who depend on software sales, through to individual consumers. Counterfeit software can even expose consumers and businesses to spyware, viruses, faulty code and identity theft.

Unlike other things you purchase, the software applications you buy don't belong to you. Instead, you become a licensed user, you purchase the right to use the software on a single computer. You can't use copies on other machines, pass it on to colleagues, or modify the software to suit your needs.

Pirated Software Hazards and Costs

With increasing piracy it is becoming harder to ensure that computer software is genuine and properly licensed. As a result, the software may contain outdated code or licenses or may not function at all. It could possibly contain bugs or hidden viruses affecting entire company IT networks, not just the one computer that the software is installed on.

Unlicensed users do not receive quality documentation and are not entitled to receive technical support or product upgrades, patches, or updates. Organisational productivity also suffers when employees use pirated products. Pirated software often leads to version control problems that prevent employees from efficiently sharing files, while driving up IT support costs. You better delete it now and move on to Open Source Software.