Piracy in South America

The South American continent is an area where several factors have combined to allow the development of piracy. Here we speak mainly piracy of software and games. Of course, Brazil would seem to be the country most affected by this phenomenon, however other countries are concerned like Venezuela (87 percent of piracy software), and also Paraguay would be the country with the rate of software piracy lowest in Latin America (with no less 58% of pirated software for PC) [1] In several countries, these exorbitant rates have declined since last year but the problem is deeper and different reasons have accelerated the development of piracy. The price of software in this region is particularly high and the original versions are not accessible to all. On one hand, the networks trafficking pirated software develops rapidly, and on the other hand, laws and the governments slow to react... In a context of crisis and economic difficulties, people chose the option: “Why should I pay for it if I can get it for free?”

This piracy mainly concerns operating systems (like Windows XP or Vista). To better reflect what can convince people to buy pirated copies, an example clearly shows financial difficulties that consumers must to face. In Germany, Vista, the Windows system up to buy 53 Big Macs while in Brazil, this amounts to buy 123 Big Macs (in 2007) [2]. Such inequalities lead the South American population to move for piracy.

Video games are also target of piracy. The pirated copies are impressive in this area: 94% of PC retail games and nearly 100% of console games are pirated in Brazil. [3]

This scenario may endanger the industry. To overcome this dark side, it is necessary that everyone takes part in the fight against piracy: international institutions, governments, businesses and consumers.

Several actions are carried out in South America. Some actions are specific to certain companies like Nintendo or Microsoft. The purpose is mainly prevention, to instill some education in relation to piracy, but also make a difference by investing in new technologies. [4] Most original, in 2005, the Brazilian Association of Software Companies with two other important actors, realized a big destruction of 1,2 million of pirate software and also music CDs. The war against piracy took place in Rio de Janeiro, for the international day Against Piracy (in December 2006). [5]

Destruction of pirate CDs and DVDs, in front of the National Congress,
in Brasília on December 06th, 2005
http://www.forumcontrapirataria.org/v1/abf-en.asp?idP=246


As everywhere, countries of South America are confronted with every means of spread of pirated software. Whether P2P networks, CDs and video games sold in the street or through friends ... There are many possibilities and few resources. Solutions to put in place must be followed. This includes thinking about international institutions and conventions already in place. However awareness and a political of government against piracy are paramount. Finally, we must ask ourselves, what solutions could be implemented to encourage consumers to redirect to legal products? By reducing the price? In conducting a campaign on intellectual property? By introducing sanctions?

Copyright infringement of software is a scourge that is sowing panic for policy and for economy. However, South America is certainly not part of the world the quietest about piracy, but not the most vulnerable.



[1] An article in Special Reports named: Software Piracy: Venezuela Worst http://www.latinbusinesschronicle.com/app/article.aspx?id=2408

[2] A conference paper about propagation of piracy by Brazilian research in 2007 http://www.first.org/conference/2007/papers/piccolini-jacomo-slides.pdf

[3] Blog article about piracy and videos games in Brazil. http://texpine.com/2008/02/15/how-piracy-can-break-an-industry-the-brazilian-case/

[4] This is an article of Cape Business News called Computer Dealers Caught in Anti-Piracy Net http://www.cbn.co.za/dailynews/2795.html

[5] It is a link to the national forum against piracy in Brazil. http://www.forumcontrapirataria.org/v1/abf-en.asp?idP=246