Growing use of unlicensed software in PCs, report shows

Nearly half of computer users around the world are using unlicensed or pirated software totalling billions of dollars, a survey has shown.

According to the BSA Global Software Survey, produced by software industry advocate The Software Alliance, 43 percent of software installed globally last year was pirated or unlicensed.

The value of the installations totalled $62.7 billion, the report said.

More than 20,000 consumer and business PC users, and more than 2,000 IT managers in 34 markets, were questioned as part of the survey.

Despite the high figures, more than 60 percent of IT managers surveyed cited security and “IP threats” as one of the

biggest concerns with using unlicensed software.

“Topping their list of concerns was the risk of losing data, followed by unauthorised access to company information … and loss of IP or proprietary information,” the report said.

However, while managers expressed concern that unlicensed software may cause harm, less than half said they were confident that their company’s software was properly licensed.

The region with the highest overall rate of unlicensed software was Asia-Pacific, at 62 percent, closely followed by central and eastern Europe at 61 percent.

North America continued to have the lowest rate of unlicensed installations, at 19 percent.

The global figures were up one percent from the last time the survey was published, in 2011.

BSA chief executive Victoria Espinel said unlicensed software use was an organisational governance issue and that the study showed there is a clear need for improvement.

“There are basic steps any company can take to ensure it is fully compliant, like establishing a formal policy on licensed software use and maintaining careful records,” Espinel said.

“Companies also should consider implementing more robust software asset- management programs that follow internationally accepted guidelines.”

The BSA Global Software Survey is published every two years.