What are the laws about software piracy?

Software piracy is the illegal reproduction and distribution of software without the consent of the copyright holder. In Washington, software piracy is illegal and can be punishable by a range of civil and criminal penalties. Criminal penalties for software piracy include large fines, jail time, and the seizure of computer hardware and software. Civil penalties include monetary damages, destruction or deletion of software programs, and injunctions against further software piracy. In Washington, the Washington State Antipiracy Act makes it a felony criminal offense to distribute copies of copyrighted software for sale or profit or to cause or induce software piracy. It is also illegal to possess, reproduce, or distribute software that is labeled as a "copy protected." In addition, Washington state law prohibits the possession, reproduction, or distribution of software for which the copyright holder has not granted permission. This includes software that has been "cracked" or altered in some way to bypass security measures, as well as software obtained from a website or other source that is distributing copyrighted material without permission. Software piracy can have serious consequences, including severe civil and criminal penalties. By understanding and following the laws of Washington, you can help protect yourself from software piracy and its consequences.

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What are the laws about software piracy?

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