HOUSTON — July 9, 2008 — A new white paper by IDC released today at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2008 highlights the collateral damage that software piracy is causing to companies across the technology industry. Sponsored by Microsoft Corp. and the International Association of Microsoft Certified Partners (IAMCP), the white paper shows that every dollar Microsoft loses to software piracy translates to $5.50 in lost opportunity for other companies in the partner ecosystem. The white paper points to a stark reality not often highlighted in industry discussions: Software piracy is a wide-ranging problem that deeply affects small companies as well as large software vendors.
“Even in a healthy ecosystem, illegal software causes hidden costs and friction in the sales and deployment processes,” said Michael Beare, director of License Compliance for Microsoft. “At its worst, rampant piracy in some economies is tearing down the opportunity for legitimate businesses to exist and thrive.”
According to the white paper, the hidden costs of piracy may occur in several ways. The velocity of sales, the life cycle of a project and the ability to fulfill contracts as negotiated can all be affected. During the course of a deployment project, for instance, consultants and solution providers may have to stop work when illegal software is discovered, or may be unable to sell their product at all upon learning that the customer’s underlying architecture is illegitimate. Worse, in many emerging markets where legally licensed software is difficult even to obtain, it can be next to impossible for a legitimate partner to operate.
“The flip side of this is that within those hidden costs may lie hidden opportunities in helping these customers turn their licensing situation around,” said John Gantz, senior vice president of IDC. “Much of the misuse, especially in developed countries, is inadvertent. A savvy vendor can realize an opportunity by helping customers to ‘true up’ their licensing, realizing that every dollar saved from software pirates can translate to over five times that amount for the channel.”
According to IDC’s white paper, by working together to curb the problem of piracy, partners can realize broad returns. The white paper estimates that for every dollar Microsoft gains from a reduction in piracy in 2008, the ecosystem that sells, services and develops products on the Microsoft platform could gain $4.37 from faster delivery and sales cycles, enhanced cross-selling and upselling, and the natural market expansion of having more legally licensed customers. In addition, the ecosystem could also realize another $1.13 in efficiencies from each of those dollars, primarily from a lower cost of goods sold, as well as lower development and testing, sales and marketing, research and development, and training costs.
More Information About Piracy’s Effects on the Channel
The white paper, titled “The Impact of Software Piracy and License Misuse on the Channel” and released today, offers a range of insights into the problems that ecosystem partners may face due to software piracy, including customer reactions and motivations, information by geographic region, and strategies for turning the piracy problem into an opportunity for legitimate businesses. Partners can download a copy of the white paper for free at http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/partners/default.aspx. More information on Microsoft’s approach to software piracy is also available at http://www.microsoft.com/piracy.
Sponsoring studies and white papers such as the one released today by IDC is an integral part of Microsoft’s Genuine Software Initiative. The initiative involves multiple activities and investments directed at fighting software counterfeiting and other forms of software piracy across three strategic areas: education, engineering and enforcement. Within each area, Microsoft is investing in activities that educate and help protect consumers and business partners from counterfeit software and other forms of software piracy. More information on Microsoft’s Genuine Software Initiative can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/genuine.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
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