Today, the Internet is one of the most common ways in which people get the information they need. However, the globalized nature of this communication system has made it very difficult to enforce the piracy laws intended to give content creators protection from those who wish to unfairly profit from their work. Anti piracy software, piracy reporting systems, and campaigns to educate the public about intellectual property laws have turned into the best defense available against this crime.

Essentially, piracy is copyright infringement. The term is most often applied to electronic or audio visual/media. The most common examples of piracy online include sites that allow for the illegal downloading of music, movies, and video games. Software piracy is a common problem as well, especially for expensive programs such as Microsoft Office or Adobe® Photoshop.