Expanding the frontiers of our digital future: Reducing software piracy to accelerate economic benefits

Abstract

In the last 5 years, US$5 trillion in information technology (IT) investments have unleashed unprecedented innovations that have transformed every aspect of our lives. Yet, the IT sector's greatest potential lies not only in what it enables individuals to do today, but in its ability to fundamentally transform economies for tomorrow. Fueled by software sector growth, countries around the world are translating IT sector growth into tangible economic benefits. The IT sector employs millions of people, generates billions of dollars in taxes, and adds a trillion dollars a year to global economic prosperity. While these facts testify to the enormity of IT industry as an economic force, the sector has yet to achieve its full economic potential.