Software Makers Say Piracy Is Becoming a Bigger Problem than Ever Before - so What Can Be Done?

Why It Matters

Software piracy erodes billions in potential revenue and undermines product road‑mapping, so turning compliance data into a sales asset and applying AI can unlock new revenue streams and protect intellectual property. The shift has broad implications for pricing models and risk management across the global software industry.

Summary

New Revenera research finds that 31% of software makers now view piracy as a major source of revenue leakage, with unlicensed usage especially prevalent in China, Russia, India and rising in Germany, where engineering simulation and CAD tools are targeted. While 30% of vendors collect telemetry on software usage, an equal share admit they never analyze the data, creating a blind spot that hampers revenue growth. The report urges firms to leverage AI‑driven analytics and treat compliance data as a sales pipeline, noting that companies that integrate infringement insights into sales see higher conversion of unlicensed users. By 2027, many vendors plan to shift toward prepaid and post‑paid usage‑based pricing to improve predictability and curb piracy.