Software Piracy among Technology Education Students: Investigating Property Rights in a Culture of Innovation

When asked about individual perceptions of “technology,” 68% of Americans primarily equate the term to the computer (International Technology Education Association, 2004). Although this perception under represents the true breadth of the field, the statistic does speak to the ubiquitous role the computer plays across many technology disciplines. Software has become the building block of all major industries and arguably, our modern civilization. Software drives the automation of manufacturing, medical research, avionics, telecommunications, engineering, and even our national defense. With software tools at the heart of design, problem-solving, and innovation for many major technology industries, technology education has accepted the essential role of software.