Simple, unlicensed copying by individuals or businesses. Or, in the case of volume licensees, it can mean underreporting the number of computers on which software is installed.

Practiced by dishonest computer system builders who sell PCs with illicit software pre-installed. Dealers use one legally acquired copy illegally for installation on many machines. Disks and documentation are often missing or incomplete. Occasionally, the unlicensed software is counterfeit media and/or documentation, which is then sold to end users unaware of the software's illegal status.

Software piracy on a grand scale, in which software and its packaging is illegally duplicated-often by organized crime rings-then redistributed as supposedly legal product.

Software distributed under special discount licenses- either to high-volume customers, computer manufacturers, or academic institutions-that is then redistributed to others who do not hold or qualify for these licenses.