The need for computer-related laws is undeniably necessary. Computer crimes are estimated to cost businesses billions of dollars each year throughout the United States. An accurate dollar amount cannot be compiled for losses programming companies sustain due to piracy of their software. Potential income is lost when copies of their programs are found easily via the Internet. Pirated software is distributed freely among underground Internet groups via email, File Transfer Protocols (FTP's), newsgroups and various other means. Individuals post copies of software that was either stolen from its company's producers, or that w

Legislation covering computer-related crimes is needed to be ever changing with new advances in technologies happening each day. Unfortunately the evolution of laws is a very slow process. It can take the government years to pass a single law offering guidelines that regulating a single new advance in technology. We see problems in dealing with monopolies in the software industry today. Those enforcing them, if not carefully thought out can always misuse laws, however important they may seem to be needed at the time. By passing laws to pursue computer-related criminals, we can also take away from freedoms of innocent people. Search and seizure laws used to gain evidence on criminals, can violate innocent parties also using the same equipment. In one case Steve Jackson, a computer game programmer, and maker of a game called "Hacker", was charged for making games that published information on how to commit computer crimes. The seizure of his company's computer equipment meant 8 persons working for him losing their jobs since the only means of making games was through the use of the seized equipment. Lawmakers need to take in account many different, sometimes unseen of issues at the time of developing laws. We need to ensure that legislators are fully educated, and given every information necessary to making laws regarding technologies. Leaders in the computer industry should never be ruled out as a possible source in helping advise our public officials. Although laws maybe needed to fund and grant powers to law enforcement agencies in an expedient manner

Some common words found in the essay are:
Hacking Internet, Steve Jackson, Service DOS, Protocols FTP's, Internet Pirated, , internet means, computer crimes, computer-related crimes, using internet, rights computer-related, credit card, innocent citizens, copies software, information stored, developing laws,
Approximate Word count = 1060
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)