Final answer:
State and federal governments have passed laws to protect intellectual property, and illegal use of software and content can be controlled through legal action.
Step-by-step explanation:
State and federal governments have passed laws that protect people's intellectual property, such as copyrights and patents. One method used to control illegal use of software and content is through legal action and enforcement of these laws. For example, companies that distribute file-sharing software allowing others to infringe on copyright can be held liable, as ruled in the Supreme Court case MGM Studios v. Grokster (2005).