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LSDefine
Simple English definitions for legal terms
piracy
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A quick definition of piracy:
Definition: Piracy is when someone does something illegal on the high seas, like stealing or hurting people on a ship or plane. It can also mean when someone copies a book or movie without permission from the person who made it.
A more thorough explanation:
Definition: Piracy refers to two different types of illegal activities:
- Crimes on the high seas: This includes violent and destructive activities such as robbery, kidnapping, and murder committed by the crew or passengers of a private ship or aircraft against another ship or aircraft. This type of piracy is punishable under international law or the laws of the country where the pirate is captured. For example, in 1820, an Irishman was convicted of piracy in the United States for murdering an English subject aboard an American shipping vessel.
- Intellectual property infringement: This refers to the unauthorized use or reproduction of someone else's creative work, such as a book, movie, or music. For example, downloading a movie from a torrent website without paying for it is considered piracy.
The examples illustrate how piracy can take different forms and can have serious consequences. In the first example, the pirate committed a violent crime and was punished accordingly. In the second example, the pirate infringed on someone else's intellectual property rights, which can result in legal action and financial penalties.