UK Videogame Trade Association Survey Finds Piracy Not Seen as a Significant Threat

TIGA, a trade association representing the UK games industry, recently surveyed its members about the rising impact of software piracy on game developers, and whether or not it threatens the survival of their businesses. Not all implies smooth sailing, but the results are mostly positive.

Gamesindustry.biz reports that ninety percent of those surveyed showed broad agreement that piracy is a growing issue, but some of the survey's other findings aren't necessarily what you might expect. For example, of the 90% that feel piracy is a growing threat, only 10% of that group said they felt it posed a considerable threat to company viability. Sixty percent indicated that piracy, although an issue, does not pose a serious threat to their businesses.

When asked about the (admittedly controversial) possibility of attacking pirates via government intervention - by effectively limiting broadband usage - the results were quite polarizing. Half those polled liked the idea, while the other half opposed it.

The recent survey appears to be in line with another poll conducted by TIGA in September. According to the September report, the majority of responders stated that they expected their businesses to show measurable improvement or growth in the next 6 months, while only 6% expected some degree of decline. However, it's also worth noting that in the very same survey, 47% predicted a financial decline over the same period, and only 41% foresaw an increase.

Richard Wilson, TIGA's CEO, believes there are some sensible conclusions to be drawn from the recent responses. "Developers are not complacent in dealing with this problem and are mostly seeking to find solutions for themselves," he stated, "rather than simply relying on the government to solve the problem of piracy."

For more from the Shack archives on piracy, click here.