A new study from the EUIPO, based on data from MUSO, shows that piracy is on the rise again in the EU for the first time in many years. The study found that piracy traffic started to grow again at the start of 2021, after years of decline.
The main driver of the increase in piracy is TV shows and publications. Software, music, and film piracy are not on the rise. The study also found that the increase in piracy is not due to COVID-19. In fact, piracy rates went back to trending downward after an initial uptick at the start of lockdowns.
According to the study, the two main drivers are; the increasing fragmentation of the streaming market, and the high cost of living in many EU countries.
As more and more streaming services launch, it is becoming increasingly difficult and expensive for consumers to access all of the content they want. This is leading some people to turn to piracy. Also, with inflation on the rise, many people are struggling to make ends meet. This is making it difficult for some people to afford to pay for streaming subscriptions.
The study found that piracy is most common in countries with low per capita income, high income inequality, and high youth unemployment. These are all countries where people are more likely to be struggling financially.
The study adds that people who pirate content are not necessarily lost sales for the content industry. Many people who pirate content would be willing to pay for it if it were more affordable or more accessible.
The sources for this piece include an article in TechDirt.
