Over one-third of software installed on PCs in Ireland last year is illegal, according to new research sponsored by a coalition of some of the world's leading software companies.
The Business Software Alliance's (BSA) annual global PC software piracy study, which is carried out by independent analysts IDC, found that 37 per cent of packaged software installed on PCs in this country is pirated.
This compares to a rate of 38 per cent in 2004 and 41 per cent in 2003. The rate is slightly higher than the European average of 36 per cent and global rate of 35 per cent, despite Ireland having some of the most stringent copyright protection laws in Europe. The BSA claims global losses from piracy amounted to $34 billion (€26.5 billion) in 2005, an increase of $1.6 billion over the previous year. Some industry observers have questioned the figures as they assume that all purchasers of cheap pirated software would buy a legal copy.
"As a primary exporter of software, Ireland stands to benefit significantly from any reduction in software piracy globally," said Julian McMenamin, chair of BSA Ireland. Lobby group ICT Ireland claims that seven of the world's top 10 software companies have a substantial base in Ireland and in total, the sector employs more than 91,000 people here.
