TECH firms constantly moan about software piracy and no wonder. Last year it accounted for 35% of the worldwide market and cost the industry $39.6 billion according to the Business Software Alliance, a trade body. America and China lead the world in terms of total losses from piracy at $7.2 billion and $5.4 billion respectively. But when calculated according to the number of computers in each country a different picture emerges. Cash-strapped countries dominate the leader board. In Azerbaijan, which comes out on top, computers are loaded with $262-worth of pirated software on average. But Iceland is the surprise second-placed nation: although software to the tune of $32m is pirated it is spread over only a few computers.

AFP