Study shows Australias software piracy rate remains higher than economic peers
Announcement posted by Business Software Association of Australia (BSAA) 20 May 2005
Australias rate of software piracy continues to remain high relative to other developed countries and shows no sign of falling, according to an international study released by the Business Software Alliance (BSA).
In fact software piracy has risen one percent to thirty two percent while software piracy in the US has fallen to twenty one percent, and in New Zealand the rates have fallen to twenty three percent. The UK also has a lower rate at 27 percent.
Software piracy causes losses of AUD545 million (US409 million) in Australia.
Conducted for the second year by global technology research firm International Data Corporation (IDC), this years BSA global piracy study incorporated major software market segments including operating systems, consumer software and local market software.
In 2004, the worldwide rate of personal computer (PC) software piracy decreased by one percentage point to 35 percent. This occurred despite an influx of new PC users from high piracy market sectors V consumer and small business V and the increasing availability of unlicensed software on Internet peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing sites.
It is significant that Australias software piracy rate continues to be substantially higher than other developed countries. Software piracy continues to be a major challenge for Australia and while nearly a third of all software used in this country is pirated it will continue to stifle the development of our local IT industry, said Jim Macnamara, chairman of the BSAA. Software piracy costs local developers as well as international manufacturers, reduces tax revenue and costs jobs.
Study Methodology
This is the second year in which IDC has studied global piracy using the same methodology and encompassing the full, PC packaged software market. Previous studies conducted by BSA used a different methodology and covered only business software, excluding operating systems.
For this study, IDC used proprietary statistics for software and hardware shipments, conducted more than 12,000 interviews in 39 countries to confirm software piracy trends (adding to 5,600 surveys conducted in 15 countries last year), and enlisted IDC analysts in over 50 countries to review local market conditions. With ongoing coverage of hardware and software markets in more than 65 countries, and with 60 percent of its analyst force outside of the United States, IDC provided a deep and broad information base from which to develop the 2004 piracy rates.
Key Findings
X The piracy rate in the Asia Pacific region was 53 percent with dollar losses totaling nearly 7.9 billion.
X The piracy rate in the European Union was 35 percent with dollar losses totaling more than 12.1 billion.
X The piracy rate in North America was 22 percent. The losses totaled more than 7.5 billion dollars.
X The piracy rate in the Middle East and Africa was 58 percent with dollar losses totaling nearly 1.3 billion.
X The piracy rate in the Latin America was 66 percent with dollar losses totaling more than 1.5 billion.
X The piracy rate in the rest of Europe was 61 percent with dollar losses totaling more than 2.3 billion.
# # #
More information:
Toll-free hotline for public inquiries (anonymously if preferred): 1800 021 143
BSAA Web site: www.bsaa.com.au
The Business Software Association of Australia (BSAA) is affiliated with the Business Software Alliance (BSA), which operates globally in 65 countries. BSAA members include Adobe, Apple, Autodesk, Borland, Macromedia, Microsoft and Symantec.
The Business Software Alliance (www.bsa.org) is the foremost organization dedicated to promoting a safe and legal digital world. BSA is the voice of the world's commercial software industry before governments and in the international marketplace. Its members represent one of the fastest growing industries in the world. BSA educates consumers on software management and copyright protection, cyber security, trade, e-commerce and other Internet-related issues. BSA members include Adobe, Apple, Autodesk, Avid, Bentley Systems, Borland, CNC Software/Mastercam, Internet Security Systems, Macromedia, Microsoft, Network Associates, SolidWorks, Sybase, Symantec, UGS and VERITAS Software.
IDC (www.idc.com) is the premier global market intelligence and advisory firm in the information technology and telecommunications industries. IDC analyzes and predicts technology trends so that its clients can make strategic, fact-based decisions on IT purchases and business strategy. Over 700 IDC analysts in 50 countries provide local expertise and insights on technology markets, and IDCs management team is comprised of experienced and respected industry luminaries. Business executives and IT managers have relied for 40 years on its advice to make decisions that contribute to the success of their organizations.
In fact software piracy has risen one percent to thirty two percent while software piracy in the US has fallen to twenty one percent, and in New Zealand the rates have fallen to twenty three percent. The UK also has a lower rate at 27 percent.
Software piracy causes losses of AUD545 million (US409 million) in Australia.
Conducted for the second year by global technology research firm International Data Corporation (IDC), this years BSA global piracy study incorporated major software market segments including operating systems, consumer software and local market software.
In 2004, the worldwide rate of personal computer (PC) software piracy decreased by one percentage point to 35 percent. This occurred despite an influx of new PC users from high piracy market sectors V consumer and small business V and the increasing availability of unlicensed software on Internet peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing sites.
It is significant that Australias software piracy rate continues to be substantially higher than other developed countries. Software piracy continues to be a major challenge for Australia and while nearly a third of all software used in this country is pirated it will continue to stifle the development of our local IT industry, said Jim Macnamara, chairman of the BSAA. Software piracy costs local developers as well as international manufacturers, reduces tax revenue and costs jobs.
Study Methodology
This is the second year in which IDC has studied global piracy using the same methodology and encompassing the full, PC packaged software market. Previous studies conducted by BSA used a different methodology and covered only business software, excluding operating systems.
For this study, IDC used proprietary statistics for software and hardware shipments, conducted more than 12,000 interviews in 39 countries to confirm software piracy trends (adding to 5,600 surveys conducted in 15 countries last year), and enlisted IDC analysts in over 50 countries to review local market conditions. With ongoing coverage of hardware and software markets in more than 65 countries, and with 60 percent of its analyst force outside of the United States, IDC provided a deep and broad information base from which to develop the 2004 piracy rates.
Key Findings
X The piracy rate in the Asia Pacific region was 53 percent with dollar losses totaling nearly 7.9 billion.
X The piracy rate in the European Union was 35 percent with dollar losses totaling more than 12.1 billion.
X The piracy rate in North America was 22 percent. The losses totaled more than 7.5 billion dollars.
X The piracy rate in the Middle East and Africa was 58 percent with dollar losses totaling nearly 1.3 billion.
X The piracy rate in the Latin America was 66 percent with dollar losses totaling more than 1.5 billion.
X The piracy rate in the rest of Europe was 61 percent with dollar losses totaling more than 2.3 billion.
# # #
More information:
Toll-free hotline for public inquiries (anonymously if preferred): 1800 021 143
BSAA Web site: www.bsaa.com.au
The Business Software Association of Australia (BSAA) is affiliated with the Business Software Alliance (BSA), which operates globally in 65 countries. BSAA members include Adobe, Apple, Autodesk, Borland, Macromedia, Microsoft and Symantec.
The Business Software Alliance (www.bsa.org) is the foremost organization dedicated to promoting a safe and legal digital world. BSA is the voice of the world's commercial software industry before governments and in the international marketplace. Its members represent one of the fastest growing industries in the world. BSA educates consumers on software management and copyright protection, cyber security, trade, e-commerce and other Internet-related issues. BSA members include Adobe, Apple, Autodesk, Avid, Bentley Systems, Borland, CNC Software/Mastercam, Internet Security Systems, Macromedia, Microsoft, Network Associates, SolidWorks, Sybase, Symantec, UGS and VERITAS Software.
IDC (www.idc.com) is the premier global market intelligence and advisory firm in the information technology and telecommunications industries. IDC analyzes and predicts technology trends so that its clients can make strategic, fact-based decisions on IT purchases and business strategy. Over 700 IDC analysts in 50 countries provide local expertise and insights on technology markets, and IDCs management team is comprised of experienced and respected industry luminaries. Business executives and IT managers have relied for 40 years on its advice to make decisions that contribute to the success of their organizations.