ReportInternational Data Corporation
Observatorio de Piratería y Hábitos de Consumo de Contenidos Digitales: Primer Semestre de 2011
1 Nov 20119 pages~6 min full read
In the first half of 2011, the value of pirated digital content in Spain reached €5.229 billion, which is nearly four times the size of the €1.538 billion legal market.
The weighted average piracy rate for digital content in Spain rose to 77.3% during the first half of 2011, representing a 0.4% year-on-year increase.
Music piracy accounted for the largest share of losses at €2.746 billion, followed by films at €1.402 billion, books at €0.793 billion, and video games at €0.288 billion.
Legal sales of digital content experienced a modest decline of 0.5% compared to the same period in 2010, while the overall legal market base contracted by 1.4%.
The study, which surveyed 3,000 online users aged 16 to 55, indicates that the persistent piracy gap represents significant untapped potential for legitimate business models.
The research methodology utilized a sample with a 95% confidence level and a 1.8% margin of error, with the online user universe defined by Nielsen Online measurements.
The study evaluates the evolution of online piracy of paid cultural digital content in Spain, focusing on music, video games, films and books during the first half of 2011 and comparing the results with the same period in 2010. By measuring the gap between legal consumption and unauthorized copying, it aims to quantify the scale of the illicit market and track changes in user behavior.
Legal sales of digital content generated €1.538 billion, a modest 0.5 % decline from the previous year. The weighted average piracy rate rose to 77.3 %, up 0.4 % year‑on‑year, implying that pirated consumption was valued at €5.229 billion—almost four times the legal market size. Segment‑specific losses were most pronounced in music (€2.746 billion), followed by films (€1.402 billion), books (€0.793 billion) and video games (€0.288 billion). Overall, the legal market base for the analysis stood at €1.561 billion, reflecting a 1.4 % contraction.
The research covers the domestic Spanish consumer market, limited to online users aged 16 to 55, and excludes content that is freely available (e.g., broadcast TV, radio, free‑to‑play games, streaming services). Data were collected through a semi‑annual online survey of 3,000 respondents drawn from a panel of 72,000, with quotas ensuring representation by gender and autonomous community. The sample provides a 95 % confidence level with a 1.8 % margin of error, and the online user universe is defined by Nielsen Online measurements.
Findings highlight a persistent and growing piracy problem despite a slight dip in legal sales, suggesting significant untapped potential for a legitimate market if effective anti‑piracy measures and alternative business models are introduced.
