Corporate Software Piracy: The Invisible Hand

This article exposes a hidden truth: widespread corporate use of pirated software, often without consequence. From a National Guardsman in Iraq downloading pirated Microsoft software for a quick network setup to small business owners using cracked software to save costs, and employees in large companies using pirated software to meet deadlines, the author argues that software piracy is ubiquitous in businesses. Companies leverage employee actions and complex workflows to shift the risk of piracy onto individual employees, reaping all the benefits with zero risk. This invisible hand benefits proprietary software companies by preventing businesses from scrutinizing licensing, reducing the urgency to streamline processes or explore open-source alternatives.