BSA Claims 35% of Software is Pirated

hdtv writes "Business Software Alliance says 35% of packaged software installed on PCs globally is pirated, and estimates the losses at $34 bln. From the article: 'The countries with the highest piracy rates were Vietnam (90%), Zimbabwe (90%), Indonesia (87%), China (86%), and Pakistan (86%). The countries with the lowest piracy rates were the United States (21%), New Zealand (23%), Austria (26%), and Finland (26%).' TechDirt analysis debunks some of the myths: 'The BSA claims that all of these "lost sales" represent real harm to the economy. It's the same bogus argument they've trotted out before, which is easily debunked. Much of that unauthorized software is being used to make firms much more productive than they would be otherwise -- probably benefiting the overall economy quite a bit.'"

Comments

ARRR! Tis Geek Squad landlubbers robbing tresure!

[Bushido Hacks]

Avast! If slashdotters recall in the last year that the BSA (which usually couldn't find a pirate if he had an eyepatch, a wooden leg, a hook, and a parrot that spouted off the names of all the bootlegged commerical software that was stollen), hit paydirt when they found out that employees of Geek Squad (those posers at Best Buy) were the ones stealing commerical computer software, video games, DVDs, and Music CDs.

If anything the BSA has found a reasonable purpose instead of playing the part of the Microsoft Police.