Some 37 per cent of software installed on PCs in Ireland last year was illegal, according to a new study from technology analysts IDC.
Julian McMenamin, chairman of BSA Ireland
The figure was down just one point compared to 2004. The survey was sponsored by the Business Software Alliance (BSA), an international organisation of software companies which campaigns against software piracy.
"Ireland continues to experience an unacceptable high piracy rate and is behind the average EU country rate of 36 per cent," said Julian McMenamin, chairman of BSA Ireland.
The survey estimated the global software piracy rate was running at 35 per cent in 2005, which the BSA claims cost the software industry $34 billion (€26.5 billion), an increase of $1.6 billion (€1.25 billion) over the previous year.
"Many factors contribute to regional differences in piracy - the strength of intellectual property protection, the availability of pirated software, cultural differences and IT-related market trends," said John Gantz, chief research officer at IDC.
Seven of the world's ten largest software companies have substantial operations in Ireland, and the sector employs over 91,000 people. The BSA and other industry bodies have said it is imperative that Ireland reduces the use of illegal software.
Piracy rates decreased in more than half (51) of the 97 countries covered in this year's study, and increased in only 20.
There was improvements in the rates of piracy in Russia, India and China - fast-growing economies which have long had extremely high rates. Russia saw a four point drop in its PC software piracy rate while India's piracy rate declined two points.
China, with one of the fastest growing IT markets in the world, dropped four points between 2004 and 2005.