Ireland could grow its $2.6 billion (€2.2 billion) IT market by 50 per cent if it reduced software piracy by just 10 percentage points, according to a study commissioned by the Business Software Alliance (BSA).
The domestic IT market is currently expected to increase 7.5 per cent by 2009, according to forecasts from International Data Corporation (ICT), which conducted the study for the BSA.
A 10-percentage point reduction in piracy could also create 1,800 new jobs in Ireland and add $541 million to the local economy, the study showed. It would also generate $277 million in additional tax revenues for Government coffers.
The IT industry in Ireland employs about 92,000 people and accounts for $52 billion in revenue. Seven of the world's 10 largest software companies have a substantial base in Ireland, including Dell and Microsoft.
Ireland ranks as the world's largest software exporter, according to Aileen Eglington, a member of BSA's Irish committee.
"It is vital that Ireland continues to reduce its piracy rates and to respect intellectual property if it is to remain attractive to foreign direct investment and competition on a global scale," said Kathryn Raleigh, director of ICT Ireland.
The study from Washington DC-based BSA, whose members include Apple and Intel, covered the economic impact of the IT sector in 70 countries worldwide.
The European Union, which boasts the second-largest IT sector in the world after North America, could add $88 billion to its economy by decreasing its software piracy rate by 10 percentage points.
"Ireland, however, stands to gain economically more than any other country from a reduction in the current levels of software piracy," said Julian McMenamin, chairman of the BSA in Ireland.
