Software piracy study estimates losses worth close to $8 billion in 2004

54% of the software installed on PCs in the Asia Pacific was pirated in 2004,
the same level as in 2003. However, losses due to software piracy increased from
US $7.5 billion to almost US$8 billion.

These  are  among  key  findings of a global software
piracy study released by   the   Business
Software  Alliance  (BSA),  an international association
of  the  world's leading software developers.  The independent
study, which indicates that software  piracy continues to be a major
challenge worldwide,  was  conducted  by IDC.

"Worldwide, one out of every three copies of software in use today has
been obtained illegally," said BSA President and CEO, Robert Holleyman.
"These losses have a profound economic impact in countries around the
world.

In 2004, the world spent more than $59 billion on commercial packaged PC
software, up from $51 billion in 2003. However, over $90 billion was actually
installed, up from $80 billion the year before.

Launching  the  Study  in  Singapore,  Jeffrey
Hardee,  Vice President and Regional Director, Asia, said, "Software
piracy remains a major concern for Asia  Pacific  countries. While
many governments have taken steps to better protect intellectual property
rights, much remains to be done in order for there  to  be substantial
reduction in software piracy levels."

The Asia Pacific region has the fourth highest average piracy rate and three
of the world's top five pirating countries are in the region.

DQC NEWS BUREAU