But the cost of being found using unlicensed software far outweighs any perceived savings.

This is a good investment, partly for your own resource management and partly because it helps you counter allegations of running unlicensed software.

By my last year in University, I worked in the computer lab battling disk viruses and breaking copy protection for professors who wanted to "try" unlicensed software.

Though it is not as big a problem now, some PC builders have in the past taken shortcuts by installing substandard components and using unlicensed software.

Iran's government has not agreed to be bound by WTO copyright laws, endorsing the free distribution of unlicensed software in massive quantities.

He said he used the technique to download unlicensed software from the Internet, rather than paying for it.

The problem is, of course, the Geek Squad has been in trouble before, as you may remember, Leo, from using unlicensed software.

According to their studies, every copyrighted music or movie download and unlicensed software install is counted as a monetary loss to piracy.

Hefty fines can result if a firm is found to be using unlicensed software.

In June 2000 the company paid a large fine to the Business Software Alliance for using a quantity of unlicensed software.