What term refers to the illegal copying, distribution, or use of software?

• A. Theft
• B. Copyright infringement
• C. Software piracy
• D. Piracy

Answer: (D)

Piracy is the term that captures illegal copying, distribution, or use of software. It refers to obtaining or sharing software without the right to do so and using it beyond what the license allows. This broad label fits the situation because it covers making copies, spreading them to others, and using software without authorization, not just one aspect of the wrongdoing.

The other terms are more specific or focus on different ideas. Theft suggests physically taking property, which doesn’t perfectly map to digital copies. Copyright infringement is a legal description of violating rights, but it’s a formal label and doesn’t emphasize the act of copying and distributing software in everyday usage. Software piracy is accurate and precise, but the common shorthand used in many contexts is piracy, which broadly conveys the illegal activity described.