Worldwide in 2008, roughly 41 percent (as compared to 38 percent in 2007) of all software installed on personal computers is obtained illegally, with revenue losses to the software industry totaling $53 billion. These are funds that could have been invested in new jobs and next-generation solutions to society’s needs. Software piracy affects more than just the software industry since for every $1 of PC software sold, there is another $3 to $4 of revenues lost to local IT support and distribution services. [1]

Emerging economies account for 45 percent of the global PC hardware market, yet they account for less than 20 percent of the PC software market. If these economies’ were to have equal software and hardware ratios, the software market would grow by $40 billion a year.  Notably, on a regional basis the highest-piracy regions are Central and Eastern Europe, with a regional average of 67 percent, followed by Latin America (65 percent). The lowest regions are North America (21 percent) and the European Union (35 percent).  As far as countries are concerned, in 2009 the BSA and IDC list the United States, Japan, New Zealand, and Luxembourg, as the lowest in terms of software piracy at about 20 percent. The highest-piracy countries are Armenia, Bangladesh, Georgia, and Zimbabwe, which are all over 90 percent. [2]

The negative effects of software piracy extend beyond the economic realm.  According to a report in The Washington Post, P2P software, which makes the personal contents of one's computer available to others, has led to the disclosure of sensitive government and personal information, including FBI surveillance photos of a suspected mafia hit man, confidential witness lists in the man’s trial, Social Security numbers, names of individuals in the witness protection program, and lists of people with HIV.