The BSA released its 2005 Global Piracy Study yesterday, showing
the piracy rate has not moved from 2004. It reckons the losses to
software publishers in the UK amount to more than $1.8 billion, the
fifth highest total in the world, according the study which was
conducted by IDC.
"It’s very disappointing to see UK piracy levels have remained
constant," said Siobhan Carroll, Regional Manager, Northern Europe,
BSA. “Lack of respect for IP in the form of software piracy is
having a hugely detrimental effect on the UK’s IT industry, and we
hope the government continues to drive awareness around IP and
pushes for the introduction of tougher enforcement measures."
The BSA says that education on intellectual property and piracy
issues is needed, particularly among businesses.
Julie Strawson, BSA UK Chair and European Marketing Director,
Monotype Imaging, said: "In the UK we have a software industry to
be proud of, and, contrary to popular belief, it’s not just the big
names that are affected. Many smaller IT companies are being held
back from innovation due to such a high level of pirated
software.”
The BSA reports that worldwide losses from software piracy
amounted to $34 billion in 2005, an increase of $1.6 billion over
the previous year. The highest piracy rates are found in Vietnam
(90%), Zimbabwe (90%), Indonesia (87%), while those with the lowest
levels are the US (21%), New Zealand (23%) and Austria (26%).
