The two interconnected problems of educational quality and piracy are described and analyzed in this book, which begins with an investigation of the accusations regarding the alleged dismal quality of educational software. The reality behind accusations of rampant piracy and the effect of piracy on the quality of educational software is examined in the third chapter, which focuses on the copyright law and how it is currently being interpreted by copyright specialists. Chapter 4 presents legal principles useful in determining the potential legality of such practices as networking; concerns pertaining to software in school libraries; the differences between owning and leasing software; and the consequences of infringing the copyright law. Chapter 5 focuses on the means available to educators, software producers, and society to contain or control illegal copying and the use of illegally copied software in the schools. The final chapter discusses software quality, piracy, and home market factors in terms of the potential severity of the threat they pose to the health of the school market. A 30-item reference list; a glossary; guidelines and statements of policy for fair use of instructional software classroom copying, and off-air recording of broadcast programming; and a sample licensing agreement are included. (LMM)