A – F | G – O | P – Z

Application Software: General term for software programs that perform specific tasks such as accounting, word processing and database management.

Authorized Dealers: Retailers that have been approved by software manufacturers to sell legal products.

CD-R: A type of optical disk capable of storing large amounts of data — up to 1GB (gigabyte), although the most common size is 650 MB (megabytes). This differs from a CD-ROM, in that you can write data to it. Commercial software is not distributed on CD-Rs.

CD-ROM: A type of optical disk capable of storing large amounts of data — up to 1GB (gigabyte), although the most common size is 650MB (megabytes). Most commercial software is distributed on CD-ROM. Most CD-ROMs are read-only storage media best suited for holding reference information that does not change on a daily basis and is not subject to being updated by those who use it.

Channel: The route via which the software makes it to the end-user. It usually involves the distribution from the publisher to large distributors and then to the resellers. The resellers then supply the software to the end-user.

Client-Server Overuse: When the number of users connected to or accessing one server exceed the total number defined in the license agreement. (Also known as over-installation.)

Copyright: The legal rights of an author under federal law (Title 17 of the U.S. Code) to control the reproduction, distribution, adaptation and performance of his/her work, including software. The copying of a copyrighted work without the permission of its author may subject the copier to both civil and criminal penalties.

Counterfeiting: The illegal duplication of software with the intent of directly imitating the copyrighted product.

Diskette: A flat piece of flexible plastic covered with a magnetic coating, which is used to store data (also called a floppy disk). The existing standard for diskette size is 3 1/2 inches. Unlike hard disks, floppy disks are portable and can be removed from a disk drive.

Download: To move a file from a computer at another site to your computer over a communications line. The term is often used to describe the process of copying a file from the Internet to a computer. Downloading can also refer to copying a file from a network file server to a computer on the network.

End-User: The final or ultimate user of a computer system and/or product.

End-User Piracy: When an individual or organization reproduces and/or uses unlicensed copies of software for its operations.

File Transfer Protocol (FTP): FTP is the standard computer language that allows disparate computers to exchange files quickly and easily, including the uploading and downloading of software programs. Computers established as FTP sites can contain enormous quantities of program files, along with other information. When exploited by software pirates, they facilitate the distribution of large volumes of copyrighted software programs.

Fixes: Corrections to vendor-supplied software. The vendor does not necessarily supply these fixes.