A Decline of Software Piracy Rate in Taiwan for Four Consecutive Years, Ranking Only Next to Japan and Singapore Among Asian Countries.

According to the Business Software Alliance (BSA) published report on 11 May, last year’s global software piracy rate has dropped to 41%, from 43% of the year before last.  Furthermore, Asia Pacific region’s software piracy rate has also slipped to 59% from 61% of the year before last.  However, this percentage sill accounts for a big portion of the global software piracy rate.  Software companies have suffered an economic loss of about USD51.4 billion globally (Asia Pacific region companies suffered USD16.5 billion).

The report also stated that Taiwan’s software piracy rate has declined by 1% last year to 38%.  Starting from 2006, the software piracy rate has been on a declining trend for four consecutive years.  Taiwan’s software piracy rate is only after Japan (21%) and Singapore (35%) in the Asia Pacific region. 

BSA indicated that the reason for pirated software rampant globally is due to the growing of personal computer market in Brazil, India and China, etc.

Software piracy rate has declined among 54 economies globally; in addition, the rate has increase among 19 economies and the rate has remained unchanged among 38 economies.

Even Taiwan underwent an economic downturn last year, the pirated software rate continues to decline.  This can be considered as the result of joint efforts for protecting IP rights among the governmental and non-governmental organizations.  Taiwanese are showing increasing sense of respect for IP rights.  The Taiwan government will continue to conduct raid actions on piracy and actively promoting intellectual property education.  (2010.05)
/DC