Software piracy hits new highs

Software piracy accounted for 41% of all PC software installed last year, according to figures from the Business Software Alliance.
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Global piracy rates rose from 38% of software in business and home computers in 2007 to 41% in 2008 despite successes in fighting piracy in China and Russia, according to the study.

The report estimates that losses to companies totalled $53 billion, despite global PC software sales growing 14% last year to $88 billion.

The BSA claims that the biggest problem is in the US, where piracy represents around 20% of the total market. Despite this being the lowest in the world, more software is sold in the US than anywhere else meaning losses are proportionally higher.

In comparison, China's piracy rate had dropped from 90% of all software in 2004 to 80% last year while Russia's piracy rate dropped 5% in the past year to 68%, the study found.

According to the BSA, the progress in China came because the government decided to use only legitimate software, because internet service providers cooperated in taking pirates off the internet when asked.

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Source：Reuters