Piracy increases by 25% in Spain between 2010-2011

According to a report from Spanish industry lobby the Coalición de Creadores, which includes the EGEDA and SGAE, digital piracy increased by 25% in Spain between June 2010- June 2011, with entertainment industry losses during that period estimated at $14.5bn (€10.8bn).

The new report shows that 77% of digitial entertainment consumed on the web - including films, music, videogames and books - is done so illegally.

The film sector calculates a total loss of around $1.9bn (€1.4bn) for the film industry in that same period. But the music sector has been the worst affected, with the rate of piracy at 98% and losses of $3.7bn (€2.7bn). The Coalición de Creadores also estimates that almost half of all digital books have been downloaded illegally, an increase of 40% on last year. The videogame piracy rate is calculated at 62% with losses of $388m (€288m).

The figures come from the Observatorio de Piratería y Hábitos de Consumo de Contenidos Digitales (Piracy and Consumption Habits Observatory), which publishes piracy results every six months.

“Spain is one of the worst affected countries when it comes to piracy”, dennounced José Manuel Tourné, director of the Foundation for the Protection of Intellectual Property, during the presentation of the report. “The lack of legislation against piracy is hindering the creation of new websites and there is a real risk that a lot of websites will have to close very soon”.

The industry is wating for the passing of new government legislation on piracy which was approved in Parliament and the Senate last March. However, the bill is being held up in the Consejo de Estado. Minister of Culture Angeles Gonzalez Sinde recently announced that the legislation will be effective before next November 20, when elections are likely to see a new government.