81% of computer software in El Salvador pirated

The Business Software Alliance yesterday released its 2006 Global Software Piracy Study. The BSA estimates that in 2005, 81% of software in El Salvador was pirated, ranking El Salvador one of the 20 countries with the highest rates of software piracy. Latin America, as a region, had a high incidence of illegally copied software with an average piracy rate of 68%.

The Business Software Alliance is a trade organization of the software industry and promotes crackdowns on copyright violations worldwide.

Comments

Anonymous said…
One more bad news.
But I don't know.
I was in Mexico DF last year for a week, and I think Mexico has more piracy than us.
I purchase some videogames on the streets and another programs that there are not available here in El Salvador. It was infront of the policemen, and another program it was recorded in the mean time of the purchase.
In Guatemala is almost the same situation.
I wonder how this study is made.
Thanks for remember us this.
Anonymous said…
Every country do computer software. Canada, EE.UU, France, Mexico, China etc.

what is all about?

Tim: am I right?
Tim said…
Nelson and Mogul:

The BSA study describes the methodology. Essentially they take information about the number of PCs in a country, they estimate the typical applications which would be installed in a random group of PCs (based on consumer and business surveys done in various countries and regions in the world). That lets the BSA estimate the amount of software they expect exists in El Salvador on PCs. They then subtract the amount of software actually licensed through legitimate channels in the country and the rest is deemed "pirated" software. (The estimate process is actually more complicated but you get the general idea).

According to the survey, software piracy rates are 21% in the US, 33% in Canada, and 36% in the European Union.

It's pretty clear why the rates are higher in developing countries -- software is expensive, copying is cheap and relatively easy, and the prospect of getting prosecuted is negligible.
Anonymous said…
In base on your explanation, I think that I understand better now.

In my best point of view that is indicating that we have a lot of installed computers in our country.

That's great!
It means that we are more technified than others countries.
Wonderful!
Anonymous said…
I make a living in the US programming software. While I wish things were different software piracy happens everywhere.

It is true that most reputable businesses in the US an Europe follow the rules, it is not uncommon for American households to use pirated software. Even professionals bring copies home from work.

In my opinion, household piracy is okay. It allows people to get the skills they need to then make the appropriate recommendations at work, where software business thrives.