piracy

n. robbery at sea; theft of another person's work or ideas; illegal copying or use of computer software (Computers)

Piracy is a robbery committed at sea, or sometimes on the shore, by an agent without a commission from a sovereign nation. Seaborne piracy against transport vessels remains a significant issue (with estimated worldwide losses of US $13 to $16 billion per year[1]), particularly in the waters between the Pacific and Indian Oceans, off the Somali coast, and also in the Strait of Malacca and Singapore, which are used by over 50,000 commercial ships a year. A recent surge in piracy off the Somali coast spurred a multi-national effort led by the United States to patrol the waters near the Horn of Africa to combat piracy. While boats off the coasts of North Africa and the Mediterranean Sea are still assailed by pirates, the Royal Navy and the U.S. Coast Guard have nearly eradicated piracy in U.S. waters and in the Caribbean Sea.
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Noun
1. robbery on the high seas; taking a ship away from the control of those who are legally entitled to it
(synonym) buccaneering
(hypernym) robbery
(derivation) commandeer, hijack, highjack, pirate
2. the act of plagiarizing; taking someone's words or ideas as if they were your own
(synonym) plagiarism, plagiarization, plagiarisation
(hypernym) copyright infringement, infringement of copyright
(derivation) pirate

(n.)

  

(n.)
The act or crime of a pirate.
  

(n.)
Robbery on the high seas; the taking of property from others on the open sea by open violence; without lawful authority, and with intent to steal; -- a crime answering to robbery on land.
  

software piracy

software theft