2009 Software Piracy Study

[kalniel]

For those that have an interest in this sort of thing - you can go to the report direct rather than rely on dubious interpretations of news outlets! (includes a link to full methodology etc.)


http://portal.bsa.org/globalpiracy2009/index.html

The value of unlicensed software hit $51.4 billion, a 3% decrease from 2008. However, in real terms and factoring in adjustments for exchange rates, the value of
unlicensed software stayed the same in 2009 as 2008.

Important caveat for those news sites who would say otherwise:

Calculating commercial value is intended to help quantify the value of unlicensed software in the market and allows for year over year comparisons of change in the software piracy landscape. It does not mean that eliminating unlicensed software would grow the market by $51.4 billion — not every unlicensed or stolen software product would be replaced by a paid-for version.