Software piracy
Pirated material costs local US government $1.7bn in lost taxes every year

Software piracy 'robbing' local communities

Business Software Alliance points to ripple effect

Iain Thomson in San Francisco

The Business Software Alliance has claimed that software piracy is robbing communities of much needed funding for police, education and housing.

The US pressure group, which is funded by major software vendors, acknowledged that four out of five pieces of software in the US is bought legally.

Advertisement

But the remaining pirated material is costing the industry $11.4bn and local government $1.7bn in lost taxes every year.

This would pay for 100 middle schools or 10,800 affordable housing units, or hire nearly 25,000 experienced police officers.

"The US may have the lowest PC software piracy rate in the world, but one out of every five pieces of software put into service is unlicensed," said Neil MacBride, vice president of anti-piracy and general counsel at the BSA.

"This is a problem for the software industry, and creates major legal and security risks for the companies involved.

Lost revenues could be supporting thousands of jobs and much needed social services

Neil MacBride Business Software Alliance

"The most tragic aspect is that the lost revenues to tech companies and local governments could be supporting thousands of good jobs and much needed social services in our communities."

The survey studied eight US states and found significant local variations from the national figure of 20 per cent.

The piracy rate was 25 per cent in California and Nevada, dropping to 19 per cent in Florida and New York.

  • Have your say
  • Send to a friend
  • Print
  • Digg
  • Reddit
  • Share

Do you agree?

Related whitepapers

Related jobs

Most watched

Summit video: Intel discusses processors designed for data overload (part one of two)

Intel explains how its Xeon processors can handle data-intensive apps

Summit: Intel discusses processors for data overload (part 2 of 2)

More thoughts on how servers can help manage overload

Analysis and Reports

Remote access - Three steps to getting connected

3.4 million UK professionals now work from home – is your company equipped?

Cost benefits of a global collaboration network

This white paper is a must read for organisations looking for evidence of the bottom-line benefits of high-definition video and voice communications

Poll

Impact of Information Overload poll

Impact of Information Overload poll

What is the biggest problem your firm faces as a result of the data explosion?

View poll results

Advertisement

White paper library

Keep up to date with the latest products, services and technologies from the world's leading IT companies; IThound.com brings you over 6,000 white papers, case studies and analyst reports.

Advertisement

Newsletter signup

Sign up for our range of FREE newsletters:

Existing User

Newsletter user login:

Enter email address to edit your newsletter preferences

Job of the week

Search thousands of IT jobs :

Search thousands of IT jobs:

Advanced search

Hiring now on ComputingCareers:

Related IT jobs

Search thousands of IT jobs :

Search thousands of IT jobs:

Advanced search

Advertisement

Spotlight

deloitte

Summit interview: Deloitte discusses security implications of the data deluge

We chat to Mike Maddison, UK head of Security, Privacy...

ibm logo

IBM boosts mobile shopping with WebSphere Commerce

Update designed to give mobile users a richer, more personalised...

Summit: Intel discusses processors for data overload (part 2 of 2)

More thoughts on how servers can help manage overload

chrome logo

Google plans a Mac version of Chrome

A Mac-friendly version of the browser is in the pipeline

Primary Navigation