37% of businesses using pirated computer software

The amount of illegal software being used by Irish companies has fallen slightly, according to a lobby group campaigning on the issue.

The Business Software Alliance says 37% of firms were using unlicensed or pirated computer programmes in 2004, compared to 40% in 2003.

However, the group says Ireland needs to crack down further on such piracy in order to protect its own software manufacturing sector and attract more high-technology firms from abroad.