Software piracy in PHL worsens to 70%, $338M in unlicensed programs — global study

Seven out of 10 software programs installed in computers in the Philippines are unlicensed or pirated—with total estimated value at $338 million or P14.6 billion, according to the 2011 Global Software Piracy Study of the Washington DC-based Business Software Alliance (BSA).   The same study also said some computer users admit they pirate all or most of the time and others say they do it occasionally or rarely.   “If 57 percent of consumers admitted they shoplift — even rarely —authorities would react by increasing police patrols and penalties. Software piracy demands a similar response: concerted public education and vigorous law enforcement,” said Roland Chan, BSA Asia Pacific marketing director in a news release.

The study also found that admitted software pirates in Asia-Pacific are predominantly male, with 32 percent between the ages of 18-24.   “Of the 36 percent of admitted software pirates in Asia-Pacific surveyed in the study, say they acquire software illegally “all of the time,” “most of the time” or “occasionally,” while 27 percent say they “rarely” do so,” the BSA said.   Piracy is more rampant in the emerging economies, the BSA learned.   “Globally, the study finds that piracy rates in emerging markets tower over those in mature markets — 68 percent to 24 percent, on average — and emerging markets account for an overwhelming majority of the global increase in the commercial value of software theft,” the anti-piracy group said.   Researchers collected 182 discrete data inputs, assessed PC and software trends in 116 markets for the study, which also included a survey of 15,000 computer users in 33 countries—making up 82 percent of the global PC market. — ELR, GMA News