
Softlifting
The most common type of piracy, softlifting, (also called softloading), means sharing a program with someone who is not authorized by the license agreement to use it. A common form of softlifting involves purchasing a single licensed copy of software and then loading the software onto several computers, in violation of licensing terms. On college campuses, it is rare to find a software program that has not been softloaded. People regularly lend programs to their roommates and friends, either not realizing it's wrong, or not thinking that it's a big deal. Softlifting is common in both businesses and homes.

Often committed by hardware dealers, this form of piracy involves loading an unauthorized copy of software onto a computer being sold to the end user. This makes the deal more attractive to the buyer, at virtually no cost to the dealer. The dealer usually does not provide the buyer with manuals or the original CDs of the software. This is how operating systems, like Windows 95, are often pirated.
Counterfeiting

Renting
Renting involves someone renting out a copy of software for temporary use, without the permission of the copyright holder. The practice, similar to that of renting a video from Blockbuster, violates the license agreement of software.
Often just called "unbundling," this form of piracy means selling stand-alone software originally meant to be included with a specific accompanying product. An example of this form of piracy is someone providing drivers to a specific printer without authorization.