nts, software "pirates" have virtually unlimited time to download their "warez"without any charge to them. Many people don't consider the people behind the creation of software when they illegally distribute it. (Rochlin) The developers of software are not properly compensated for their work becauseof the extent of software piracy. No one can argue with a software company's desire, and right, to make sure everyone using their products has paid for it. The numbers add up, it is estimated that in 1994 alone that software companies lost $15 billion from illegal software copying. It is not only illegal, but clearly unethical todistribute software knowing that the people behind the software are experiencing the downfalls of it. Every time software companies cannot compensate their programmers for their work, morepeople are out of a job. Consider this, you enter a store and purchase an item, during thistransaction you give your name and phone number. The person you have given this information tothen enters it into a computerized database. After this person has collected a sufficient amount ofnames, they then sell it to a telemarketing firm for a profit. This action is legal, but is it ethical.Do you want your name sold without your consent? Most people don't because they don't want tobe bothered by sales persons on the telephone. Also, your address could be sold and you put on amailing list. Then its an issue of do you want your mailbox filled with junk mail. (Wellbery). This action is unethical for the simple reason of consent. If the person had justgained consent to enter the names into his/her database then he would not have committed andunethical act. One conclusion from studies sponsored by the National Institute of Justice is that persons involved in computer crimes get form skills and interests at an early age. Usuallythey are introduced to computers at home or in ...
