Piracy is the unauthorized duplication of an original recording for commercial gain without the consent of the rights owner. The packaging of pirate copies is different from the original. Pirate copies are often compilations, such as the "greatest hits" of a specific artist, or a collection of a specific genre, such as dance tracks.

The problem of piracy has arisen with the rapid advance of technology. New techniques of printing, recording and fixation of broadcast or recorded programmes have emerged, making it easy for the pirates to carry on their illegal activities. Piracy is an illegal and criminal activity.

Music Piracy basically refers to three kinds of illegal Activities:
	Counterfeiting This is the unauthorized copying of the sound as well as artwork, trademark, label and packaging of the original recording. The aim is to mislead the consumer into thinking that they are buying the genuine product.
	Pirate Recordings These are unauthorized duplications of music from legitimate recordings for commercial gain. Pirated CDs or music cassettes may be compilations such as 'Top Ten', 'Bollywood Hits' or a combination of hit titles of different music companies. The packing and presentation of a pirate copy does not usually resemble a legitimate commercial release.
	Bootlegging This is recording, duplication and sale of a performance such as a live concert or broadcast without the permission of the artist or the Record Company which may be entitled to control the recording rights of the artists performances.

Piracy comes in several varieties :
	End User Piracy
	Reseller Piracy
	BBS/Internet Piracy
	Trademark/Trade Name Infringement

End User Piracy
	copying the same software onto more than one computer
	copying office software onto a home computer
	loaning your software to someone else so that the person can make a copy
	making a copy and selling the software to someone else
	selling old software (?)

Reseller Piracy
	an individual or company who takes one copy of software and deliberately reproduces it with fake certificates so that those who purchase it believe it is being purchased from the company which developed it
	many folks may have the same serial number

BBS/ Internet Piracy
	distribution of copyrighted software via the Internet or a bulletin board system sites which are set up to distribute software have made arrangements with the software
	owners to make their software available

P2P networks don’t look at individual requests for media to determine if they are for licensed materials or not
	Even though as much as 90% of files shared on P2P networks are copyright protected, making a copy of copyrighted song available to others on P2P service without a license is illegal
	Sharing uncopyrighted artistic creations and files over a P2P network is completely legal.

Downloading MP3s
	Creating a compilation of songs from CDs & converting to MP3 does not in itself constitute infringement.
	Infringement occurs when you facilitate the distribution of those files.
	Permission is always required unless use meets criteria of Fair Use.

Trademark/ Trade Name Infringement
	improper use of a registered trademark