IDC report on the impact to the channel of software piracy

IDC recently completed a study, for Microsoft and the International Association of Microsoft Certified Partners, on the impact of software piracy and license misuse on the channel. The resulting white paper discusses that software piracy is not just a Microsoft specific problem but a multifaceted issue which impacts the entire channel ecosystem. Some of the impacts listed by IDC included:

• Competition from low-cost competitors using pirated or unlicensed software
• Limitations on the opportunity to up-sell or cross-sell additional products or services in accounts running pirated software
• Lost opportunity for services revenues in accounts running pirated software

In addition, they found, that for every dollar Microsoft realises from a reduction in piracy other companies in the software industry would realise US$5.50.

Read the white paper here: https://download.microsoft.com/documents/australia/genuine/Partner_Piracy_Impact_Study.pdf