B. The unauthorized and illegal reproduction or distribution of materials protected by copyright, patent, or trademark law.
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to pronunciationLegal Definition -
1. Robbery, kidnapping, or other criminal violence committed at sea. 2. A similar crime committed aboard a plane or other vehicle; hijacking. 3. The unauthorized and illegal reproduction or distribution of materials protected by copyright, patent, or trademark law.
Black's Law Dictionary® Eighth Edition © 2004
Current Usage -
"College and universities that take part in federal financial aid programs will have to work harder to prevent illegal downloads of music, movies and other copyrighted material if legislation passed by the House last month becomes law.
The two-page portion of the 800-page bill has raised alarms among universities. They contend that individuals using campus computer networks are responsible for only a tiny proportion of such unlawful behavior.
'More than 80 percent of students live off campus and use commercial networks,' said Steve Worona, director of policy and networking programs for Educause, a nonprofit association that focuses on the use of information technology in higher education.
Universities go well past the minimum requirements in the current law to discourage piracy. They require students to read and sign information about copyrights, Mr. Worona said."
Ben DuBose, Los Angeles Times March 17, 2008.