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Survey Reveals That More Than Half of PC Users are Pirates

By - Source: BSA

The Business Software Alliance (BSA) has found that 57 percent of the world's PC users freely admit that they are stealing software. Well, sort of.

That number is, of course, the average number of a global survey with national averages that vary greatly by region.

According to the BSA, developing countries have far greater piracy rates than developed nations. For example, the piracy rate in the U.S. is just 19 percent, Germany 26 percent and Australia 23 percent. In contrast, India revealed a piracy rate of 63 percent, China 77 percent, and Kenya 78 percent.

The commercial value of the software pirated in the U.S., however, is $9.8 billion and exceeds all other countries. China's staggering piracy rate result in a commercial pirated software value of $8.9 billion.

The aggregate value of pirated software that was in use in 2011 is estimated at $63.4 billion, up from $58.8 billion in 2010.

There are 69 Comments. B
Top Comments
  • 33 Ð
    amdfangirl , May 24, 2012 7:04 PM
    Depends what you call piracy. AFACT knocked on my door because I used p2p to "pirate" Linux and other free software causing "millions of dollars worth of IP damage".

    ;) 
  • 29 Ð
    joytech22 , May 24, 2012 7:13 PM
    I admit I do pirate, but if I like the content I will pay for it and if I don't, I will delete it.

    I used to pirate big time without even paying for content I liked, but I thought to myself it's just more sensible to pay for content I like.
    All software and movies I have are purchased in either hard copy or some digital form from legitimate sites. (Like iTunes etc..)
  • 24 Ð
    A Bad Day , May 24, 2012 7:04 PM
    I pity those who still think that they can stop the pirating of software...
Other Comments
  • 33 Ð
    amdfangirl , May 24, 2012 7:04 PM
    Depends what you call piracy. AFACT knocked on my door because I used p2p to "pirate" Linux and other free software causing "millions of dollars worth of IP damage".

    ;) 
  • 2 Ð
    anonymous@guest , May 24, 2012 7:04 PM
    china is a developing country??
  • 24 Ð
    A Bad Day , May 24, 2012 7:04 PM
    I pity those who still think that they can stop the pirating of software...
  • 19 Ð
    posteris , May 24, 2012 7:06 PM
    i imagine someone making 10$ a month, buying licensed software, not to mention hardware price
  • 16 Ð
    phishy714 , May 24, 2012 7:11 PM
    YYYAAAARRR!
  • 29 Ð
    joytech22 , May 24, 2012 7:13 PM
    I admit I do pirate, but if I like the content I will pay for it and if I don't, I will delete it.

    I used to pirate big time without even paying for content I liked, but I thought to myself it's just more sensible to pay for content I like.
    All software and movies I have are purchased in either hard copy or some digital form from legitimate sites. (Like iTunes etc..)
  • 18 Ð
    ohim , May 24, 2012 7:13 PM
    And yet software companies and record houses bathe in millions of dollars ... that`s to show how overprice they sell their stuff.
  • 19 Ð
    jdamon113 , May 24, 2012 7:15 PM
    Yet all these software companies cant wait to give China , India all the jobs. Why would they change they are rewarded for there actions.
  • 19 Ð
    psychobob , May 24, 2012 7:15 PM
    With such a high piracy rate, it's hard to imagine how the software industry can thrive at all and make billions. Perhaps the Business Software Alliance just needs justify to its funding and existence with dubious surveys.
  • 19 Ð
    icepick314 , May 24, 2012 7:16 PM
    isn't that kinda given as a PC user?

    if I like the game or the software, I'll pay for it eventhough there are free "options"...

    it's not as if EVERY "pirated" software is actually lost sale...

    not to mention not EVERY software is available globally due to artificial regional borders and lockdowns...

    stop blaming the "pirates"...if you make it easier and better than hassle of locating torrent or finding cracks or serial keys along with possible virus/worm hacked files, then people WILL buy your software...
  • 8 Ð
    mobrocket , May 24, 2012 7:25 PM
    cudencudenchina is a developing country??


    if they are considered developing, what are we in the US
  • 12 Ð
    neiroatopelcc , May 24, 2012 7:30 PM
    I think the actual rate is higher. I just don't think people realize that downloading an mp3 based on a youtube video that was put there without authorization is thieft according to ria etc.

    I don't think I know a single person who doesn't have pirated software of some kind. And I think Denmark's part of the developed world.
  • 12 Ð
    olaf , May 24, 2012 7:38 PM
    Quote:
    The aggregate value of pirated software that was in use in 2011 is estimated at $63.4 billion, up from $58.8 billion in 2010.


    this just goes to show that software prices are just going up. Kinda hard to expect someone to pay 60eu's out of a 200-250eu salary, having to pay over 150 just for food and other expenses(like power/heat/water and so on).
  • 11 Ð
    amoralman , May 24, 2012 7:42 PM
    Arrr!

    I don't know what they're talking about...
  • 15 Ð
    EDVINASM , May 24, 2012 7:43 PM
    Well I don't know what to say. Paying €100 for Windows 64bit plus anything else on top is a bit too much. I could happily pay €50 for Win7Pro 64bit. Recently I have decided to purchase Adobe CS6 suite. €350 for students. Fair enough.. Then, hardware requirements for Quadro etc. Fek it.. I am running trial!
  • 17 Ð
    v3nom777 , May 24, 2012 7:47 PM
    This is all Propaganda.
  • 7 Ð
    teodoreh , May 24, 2012 7:53 PM
    Key word: Admitting :D .

  • 15 Ð
    songemu , May 24, 2012 8:05 PM
    This is hardly ingenuous. 1 person pirating Adobe software is like 150 Somalians pirating... i don't know... Boat-Building for Pirates/Dummies
  • 8 Ð
    olaf , May 24, 2012 8:10 PM
    songemuThis is hardly ingenuous. 1 person pirating Adobe software is like 150 Somalians pirating... i don't know... Boat-Building for Pirates/Dummies


    lol nice one :D  had to bump it :D 
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