An International Data Corporation (IDC) report on global software piracy has found that 80% of all software sold in Africa is pirated. The global average piracy rate is 35% and SA`s rate is slightly higher at 37%.
According to the Global IDC Software Piracy Study released by the Business Software Alliance (BSA) in Johannesburg yesterday, Algeria, Kenya, Nigeria and Tunisia all rank in the mid- to high-80s, while Zimbabwe posts the highest software piracy figure of 90%. The IDC says Africa`s economy is suffering to the tune of over $1 billion as a result.
The report, which covers 87 countries, says the piracy rate in the EMEA region has dropped slightly since last year, and now stands at 39% on average.
However, illegal software still costs software companies and countries` economies more than $15.5 billion in Europe, Middle East and Africa, and almost $33 billion worldwide.
Neil Dundas, a legal advisor to the BSA and a director at Bowman Gilfillan attorneys, notes that the statistics must be seen in context. He points out that the global piracy average dropped by 1% despite a massive increase in the number of PC users, an influx of new users from high-piracy market sectors such as consumers and small businesses, and the increasing availability of unlicensed software at online peer-to-peer file-sharing sites.
"Unfortunately, the value of pirated software increased. Last year, the world spent over $59 billion on PC software but installed more than $90 billion. For every $2 worth of software purchased legitimately, one was obtained illegally," Dundas says.
"Piracy is seen as a quick fix, an easy way to benefit from technology without investing too much. People rarely think of the ethical or economic consequences of pirating software," says Stephan le Roux, chairman of the BSA.
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