In 2023, global piracy reached a staggering 141 billion visits to pirate sites, highlighting a significant trend in the consumption of illegal content. To better understand these shifts, we explore how piracy patterns are changing across different regions. While Canada has seen a notable increase in piracy, Brazil is experiencing a gradual decline. Meanwhile, other regions are emerging as new areas of concern.
Recent data from MUSO and Kearney reveal that video piracy continues to grow globally. Although the full report was not yet available at the time of writing, the preliminary insights offer a clear view of the evolving piracy landscape.
Understanding Global Piracy Trends
The report features an insightful graph that classifies countries based on their per capita visits to pirate sites and the trends observed between 2018 and 2023. This classification helps identify where piracy is most prevalent and where it’s headed.
Countries are categorized into four groups:
- Hotspots: High and rising piracy rates per capita
- Recovering: High piracy rates per capita, but declining
- Emerging Risks: Low piracy rates per capita, but growing rapidly
- Positive Trends: Low and declining piracy rates per capita
In the graph, countries with the highest and fastest-growing piracy rates are placed in the top right quadrant, while those with emerging risks are in the top left.
Canada vs. Brazil: Diverging Paths
Canada is identified as a key piracy hotspot, with a significant number of visits per capita (+90) and a 50% increase from 2018 to 2023. Other countries in this category include Sweden, Hong Kong, and Qatar, with Singapore having the highest visits per capita, albeit with slower growth.
On the other hand, Brazil shows a decline in piracy rates, likely due to effective enforcement measures. While the decline is moderate, it marks a positive shift in a region previously challenged by high piracy levels.
Emerging Piracy Concerns (Including the U.S.)
The bottom right quadrant of the graph highlights emerging risks, particularly in countries where internet access has rapidly expanded. India, Nigeria, and Ghana are leading this category, with each showing growth rates of over 100%. Notably, the United States, long a leader in overall piracy traffic, now falls into this category as its per capita piracy rate begins to climb.
Conclusion
The graph provides a comprehensive overview of how video piracy is evolving across various countries. As these trends continue to develop, it will be crucial to monitor and respond to changes in global piracy behavior.
