Audiovisual piracy declines but still costs industry €2.3 billion
Executive summary: Audiovisual piracy has decreased but still causes an estimated €2.3 billion in losses to the media and entertainment sector. These losses affect revenues of studios, broadcasters, streaming platforms and sports organizations, prompting continued investment in anti‑piracy measures and potential regulatory action.
Who is involved: Content producers, distributors, streaming services, sports leagues, anti‑piracy agencies and policymakers.
Likely next: Industry may step up watermarking and legal actions, while governments consider stricter copyright enforcement and funding for enforcement bodies.
The latest data show a reduction in audiovisual piracy activities, yet the estimated losses remain high at €2.3 billion. Cinema operators, television broadcasters, streaming services and sports rights holders continue to suffer revenue shortfalls despite anti‑piracy campaigns. The persistence of the loss gap suggests that current enforcement measures are insufficient to fully curb illegal consumption.
Timeline
- — Meno pirati, ma il conto resta salato: 2,3 miliardi bruciati dagli illeciti (Il Sole 24 Ore — Economia)
Analysis — what this means
Sectors affected
- Media and entertainment
- Broadcasting
- Streaming platforms
- Sports broadcasting
Regulatory implications
- Increased budget for national anti‑piracy units
- Review of safe‑harbor provisions for hosting providers
Historical parallels
- Music industry’s piracy decline after streaming adoption in the 2010s
- Film sector’s losses during the DVD‑ripping peak circa 2008‑2012
- Software piracy trends following the rise of cloud‑based licensing
Sources
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