A new study by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) has found the downward trend in piracy seen in recent years has been reversed.
Online Copyright Infringement in the European Union, Films, Music, Publications, Software and TV, 2017-2022 suggests TV content is the most pirated type of content in the EU and accounts for almost half of all piracy. The streaming of live events, particularly sport, is also on the increase, rising by some 30% between 2021 and 2022.
The study measured the number of monthly accesses per internet user to illegal content, which had declined between 2017 and 2021. In 2022, the trend was reversed, and digital piracy increased by 3.3%.
Speaking about the study, the EUIPO’s Executive Director, Christian Archambeau, says copyright infringement in the digital era is a serious concern and a direct threat to the creative industries in Europe. “The new study shows that there is still much work to do to tackle piracy. Stopping this phenomenon is complex as piracy is continuously evolving with technology. This is why understanding the underlying mechanisms of piracy is essential to adopt effective policies and measures that contribute to reducing it.”
According to the study, streaming has become the most popular method to access pirated TV content, with 58% of piracy in the EU occurring via streaming and 32% through downloading.
Online Copyright Infringement in the European Union, Films, Music, Publications, Software and TV, 2017-2022 is the third study on the evolution of web-based online copyright infringement.
The study examines the number of accesses to pirated films, TV, music, software and publications from January 2017 to December 2022, using a variety of desktop and mobile access methods, such as streaming, downloading, torrents and stream ripping software.
