BSA: Half of PC users acquire software illegally

New survey casts light on global attitudes to software piracy

Nearly half of the world's PC owners use illegal means to acquire software, according to a new global anti-piracy study by The Business Software Alliance (BSA).

The survey, conducted on behalf of the BSA by Ipsos Public Affairs, polled 15,000 PC users across 32 countries about their use of peer-to-peer networks or licence mismanagement to obtain software unlawfully.

Its findings suggest that PC users in developing countries are most adept at acquiring software illegally, with China, Nigeria and Vietnam emerging as the three worst offenders.

For instance, 86 per cent of PC users in China admitted illegally obtaining software, while Nigeria took second place with 81 per cent and Vietnam followed in third (71 per cent).

The UK fared better, as just 30 per cent of respondents admitted they have used unlawful practices to acquire software, and South African PC users were named as the best behaved with 20 per cent.

The BSA claims that carrying out the research has shown that many software pirates do not realise what they are doing is illegal. Meanwhile, many others believe the problem is so widespread that it is unlikely they will ever get caught.

Robert Holleyman, president and chief executive of the BSA, said: "The evidence is clear: the way to lower software piracy is by educating businesses and individuals about what is legal, and ramping up the enforcement of intellectual property laws to send clearer signals to the marketplace."