Legal Dictionary
Main Entry:
pi·ra·cyPronunciation:
'pI-r&-sEFunction:
nounInflected Form:
plural -cies 1 : an act of robbery esp. on the high seas;
specifically : an illegal act of violence, detention, or plunder committed for private ends by crew or passengers of a private ship or aircraft against another ship or aircraft on the high seas or in a place outside the jurisdiction of any state —see also
AIRCRAFT PIRACY Article I of the
CONSTITUTION in the back matter
2 a : the unauthorized copying, distribution, or use of another's production (as a film) esp. in infringement of a copyright
piracy> b : the unauthorized use, interception, or receipt of encoded communications (as satellite cable programming) esp. to avoid paying fees for use piracy of programming signals —United States v. Harrell, 983 Federal Reporter, Second Series 36 (1993)>
3 : the crime of committing piracy
[pahy-ruh-see] 
rə