Despite a concerted effort to reduce levels of software piracy, Ireland’s piracy rate has remained static over the last two years, according to a recent study from the Business Software Alliance. Although Ireland experienced the highest drop in software piracy in Europe from 1994 to 2000, the BSA claims that the country still has one of the worst piracy rates in Western Europe. As a comparison to the rest of Europe, Ireland has a piracy rate of 42 per cent meaning that almost one in every two business software programs installed in the nation is an illegal copy.
Denmark has the lowest piracy rate in Western Europe at 24 per cent, while Greece has the highest with a staggering 63 per cent.
According to the study, the global software piracy rate declined to 39 per cent in 2002 from an all-time high of 49 per cent in 1994. In Western Europe, it has fallen 17 points to 35 per cent.
Commenting on the study findings, Julian McMenamin, chairman of Business Software Alliance Ireland said: ‘the lack of improvement on Ireland’s piracy rate can be attributed to the proliferation of Internet piracy and a certain amount of apathy. But whatever the excuse, a piracy rate of 42 per cent is appalling. Although the current business environment is difficult, companies must appreciate the value of software and ensure sound software asset management procedures are put in place. It is obvious that bolder measures will have to be taken to combat the continuing problem of piracy in Ireland’.
According to a recent IDC study on the economic impact of software piracy, Ireland’s economy would increase by EUR570 million, benefit from 2,400 new high-wage jobs and EUR236 million in tax revenues by 2006, if software piracy was reduced by 10 percentage points in the next four years.
05/09/2003
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