Author: Boyana Boyadzhieva
Data from a new survey conducted by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) shows that there has been a reversal in the downward trend in piracy from the previous year when access to pirated content per month per internet user for all types of content reached its low point at around 5. At the end of 2022, there is a slight increase of 3.3% or 7 in total. Despite this turnaround, the number of accesses per user per month in December 2022 is still 40% lower than in January 2017, when the survey showed that access to illegal content per month per internet user for all content types was 11.5.
This change in trend is mainly due to the growth in TV piracy, which in 2022 accounts for almost half (48%) of all accesses to illegal content sites in the EU. Other types of pirated content include publications (28%), films (11%), software (7%) and music (6%).
The survey also identifies the most pirated genres, with TV shows, series, and films leading the way, followed by anime productions (series and films) and live broadcasts of sporting events and specialized sports channels.
According to the study, streaming has become the most popular method of accessing illegal TV content, with 58% of piracy in the EU taking place via streaming and 32% via downloading. Piracy of live sports events also shows growth in 2021-2022 with a 30% increase.
In addition to statistics, the study also carries out an econometric analysis, focusing mainly on the piracy of films, music, and TV.
The main conclusions are as follows:
– Piracy in each of the three areas studied behaves differently.
– Economic and social factors influence piracy. GDP in a given member state, inequality, population structure and youth unemployment are influential.
– The number of legal offers contributes to reducing piracy in all three areas.
– The COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to reducing piracy in the film and television industry, but not music piracy.
You can read the full report here: