The software piracy rate in the UK has dropped, despite a worldwide increase in the number of illegal or unlicensed products being used, according to a new survey.
IDC's research, conducted for the Business Software Alliance (BSA), found the level of piracy had dropped by one per cent, now standing at 26 per cent.
The cost for businesses through piracy now amounts to £925 million, despite the drop.
Julie Strawson, chair of the BSA UK member committee, said: "It's encouraging that we're making progress in the battle against software piracy, however there's a huge amount yet to be done."
The BSA said the drop in piracy has occurred because of an investment in education or enforcement, in particular the use of regional programmes.
Ms Strawson added that "UK organisations still flout software licensing regulations" thereby "undermining the software industry".
Piracy fell in 67 of the 108 countries surveyed, however the overall rate increased by three per cent.
The European rate now stands at 35 per cent, which is lower than the 2003 rate of 41 per cent.
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