BSA warns consumers to resist pirated software in downturn

Peter Dinham
Tuesday, 05 May 2009 02:52

IT Industry - Strategy

And, in the case of the toy industry, there’s a serious warning from Beverly Jenkin, CEO of the Australian Toy Association, that “purchasing pirated goods means putting children at risk from unsafe toys.”

Jenkin says that pirated goods also adversely affect consumers financially, “through the risk of being ripped off, as well as finding that the products are of inferior quality.”
 
According to the survey, the majority of people said that knowledge of the tangible effects of piracy – as well as the personal risk – makes them less likely to buy pirated goods.

Eighty percent of respondents revealed that knowing they could support organised crime would make them less likely to buy or obtain a pirated product, and a similar proportion (78%), also said that knowing they could be harming Australian businesses and jobs would make them less likely to support piracy.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) manager for economic operations, Commander Ian McCartney, said intellectual property crime was not victimless and the manufacture, distribution and sale of counterfeit goods funded organised crime.

“Counterfeiting and piracy has far reaching impact and the AFP is committed to investigating and prosecuting producers, organisers and distributers of offending products.”

Other key findings of the survey included:        

•    More than two thirds (73%) said knowing they could incur a fine or conviction would make them less likely to buy counterfeit goods.

•    Eight in 10 (78%) said knowing the product is of inferior quality would make them less likely to obtain a pirated product.

•    Those aged 18-34 years (73%) were significantly more likely to agree that it is much more tempting to buy pirated goods, than those aged 50 years and over (53%).

•    78 per cent of females and 68 per cent of males said that knowing you could be fined or receive a conviction would make them less likely to buy or obtain a pirated product.