ABSTRACT
Music, Video, and Software Piracy Digital technology permits perfect reproduction and easy dissemination of print, graphics, sound, video, and multimedia combinations. The temptation to reproduce copyrighted material for personal use, for sale at a lower price, or indeed, for free distribution, has proven irresistible to many. US copyright industries estimate that they lose an estimated $20-22 billion annually due to piracy worldwide [3]. Pirated software may be bought and sold online all over the world [4]. The 'Drink or Die' Network, an international association of software pirates, was alleged to have pirated and distributed more than $50 million worth of movies, software and music in the three years prior to their disruption by Operation Buccaneer, an investigation resulting in simultaneous raids in six countries, in December 2001 [5].
