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Anti-piracy initiative

Who does piracy hurt?

Piracy hurts everyone: purchasers, manufacturers, employees, and many others. Here is a brief summary of the consequences.

• The global economy
• Legitimate software users
• Users of pirated software

The global economy

Illegal distribution of software affects the worldwide economy. With an estimated 36% piracy rate globally, the economic effects are significant. In 2001, according to the Business Software Alliance, piracy cost the global economy over US$13 billion dollars in lost tax revenues that would benefit local communities. Hundreds of thousands of jobs in software and related industries were also lost.

Legitimate software users

Software piracy stifles innovation. The cost of combating software piracy, plus lost revenues, could be spent on research and development to benefit users.

Users of pirated software

Pirated software can carry viruses or may not function at all. Unlicensed users do not receive quality documentation and are not entitled to receive technical support or product upgrades, patches, or updates. Organizational productivity also suffers when employees use pirated products. Pirated software often leads to version control problems that prevent employees from efficiently sharing files, while driving up IT support costs.