The Net is closing

Free software on the Internet? Yes, please. If something is readily available gratis, who isn't going to take advantage? Well, apparently, quite a lot of people.

The age of software piracy could soon be at an end. According to 'virtual shrinkwrappers' Softwrap, people have downloaded pirated software because publishers and their traditional distributors have been slow to take advantage of the online market.

'They have been suspicious of allowing users to download their products for fear of alienating their retailers,' says Softwrap's Emma Morris. 'And they have lacked a secure way of allowing end-users to test complete products before buying them.'

Try before you buy

Very few people will consider buying expensive software just because they've used a demo version that came free with some PC magazine. Surfers are also tired of spending time looking for pirated software that proves to be unusable.

Legally distributing complete programmes on a try-before-you-buy basis could be the answer. And with the advent of polymorphic encryption, companies such as Softwrap can offer a level of protection where generic hacks are unusable.

'Any encryption can be cracked - it might take a day or two but it's possible,' says Softwrap's QA manager Richard Wienburg. But the aim is to make it impossible for the 'casual hacker' to achieve and not worth the time and effort of the pro.

Anti-piracy initiatives also need the backing of the file-sharing sites themselves. Although they can't control what files users make available to each other, peer-to-peer sites such as Kazaa and Grokster are promoting legal software, and are unwilling to suffer the same fate as companies such as Napster.

It's also about educating the publishers. Morris says: 'They need to be aware that their software must be compatible with digital transfer technology. That may even result in companies going through all their old games titles and re-issuing them so people can securely download legal copies.'

But until this process gathers pace, what of the people still determined to get hold of free pirated software? It's estimated that a staggering 78 per cent of bandwidth used by students and 35 per cent used by employees consists of downloads from file-sharing sites.

'Another reason fewer people will download illegal software is fear,' says Wienburg. 'With the growing legal implications, users are getting scared.'

Getting legal

Last month, Sweden announced plans to outlaw peer-to-peer file swapping. In the US, the Recording Industry Association is threatening college music pirates with $150,000 fines for every breached copyright.