57 pc computer users confess using pirated software costing industry $63.4 billion

London, June 4 (ANI): Almost 57 percent of computers users across the world have admitted to using pirated software, which has resulted in a loss of 63.4 billion dollars in the software industry annually, according to a survey.

A survey conducted by the Business Software Alliance (BSA) revealed that more than half the world is involved in software piracy, which is a 17 percent increase from 2011.

According to The Daily Mail, for the first time researchers asked 15,000 people from 33 countries: 'How often do you acquire pirated software or software that is not fully licensed?'

The survey revealed that five percent 'always' used pirated software and nine percent confessed of using illegally obtained software 'most of the time'.

Almost 17 percent admitted to 'occasionally' using pirated programmes, while 26 percent said that they 'rarely' obtained pirated material.

However, almost 38 percent said they 'never' use unlicensed software.

The study also found that piracy was most common in countries with emerging economies, with the highest rates of piracy in Venezuela (88 percent), Indonesia (86 percent) and China (77 percent).

The U.S, which has the largest market for software spending at 42 billion dollars annually, emerged well from the findings with the lowest piracy rate (19 percent).

BSA, a lobbyist group dedicated to fighting digital piracy whose members include companies such as Apple, Intel and Microsoft, highlighted that the theft costs approximately $63.4 billion, an increase from 58.8 billion pounds in 2010.

The study also found that young male computer users pirate the most software. (ANI)