Subscribe
Italy Leads Europe in Reducing Access to Illegal Content
In recent years, the online piracy landscape has seen significant transformations, with growing attention to the economic, social and technological factors that fuel the phenomenon. A recent study by Euipo (European Union Intellectual Property Office) revealed that Italy stands out in Europe as the country with the least access to pirated content, with an average of 7.3 monthly accesses per user, well below the European average of 10.2. This result puts Italy ahead of nations such as Germany and Romania and marks an improvement compared to the previous year.
A diversified European picture
While Italy ranks first in terms of virtuosity, other countries present more worrying data. The Baltic States and Cyprus, for example, record over 20 monthly accesses to pirated content per user. In Poland, Spain and Austria, the piracy rate exceeds 8 monthly accesses. The diversity between countries reflects the influence of economic and cultural variables, with differences emerging not only in user behaviour, but also in the types of content most pirated. The study highlights that half of illegal access in Europe concerns television content, with an average of five visits per month per user. This sector has been particularly affected by the growth of illegal streaming platforms, such as unauthorized IPTV services. In 2023, access to such services increased by 10%, and up to 1% of users in the European Union have subscribed to these platforms in the last two years. Ease of use and lower prices compared to legal services are key factors in their success, despite the high legal risk.
Devices and methods of access
Access to pirated content varies depending on the devices used. For music and publications, mobile devices dominate, thanks to their convenience and the spread of applications that facilitate illegal downloading. However, when it comes to TV content, desktop computers remain the preferred medium, probably due to the need for stable connections and larger screens for a better viewing experience.
Movie piracy, although declining, is still mainly linked to streaming, which represents 74% of the activity. In contrast, music piracy, although slightly increasing, is mainly based on ripping, a method that allows content to be downloaded from legal or free platforms. Publication piracy, stable at 2.7 hits per user, is dominated by direct download, with manga being the most affected category. Another notable figure concerns software piracy, up 6%, with 0.88 monthly hits per user. Mobile games are the most affected segment, highlighting a constant demand for low-cost gaming content. Live sporting events, a segment traditionally difficult to protect, have seen an increase in piracy in the period 2021-2023, with 0.56 monthly hits per user at the end of last year.
The Roots of the Phenomenon: Economic Inequality and Awareness
The Euipo analysis identifies several economic and social factors underlying online piracy. Income inequality, youth unemployment and the high percentage of young people in the population are correlated with higher rates of access to illegal content. In particular, young people, often limited by budget and attracted by easily accessible offers, represent a significant part of the piracy audience. Conversely, a higher GDP per capita and greater awareness of legal alternatives are associated with lower piracy rates. Italy, for example, has benefited in recent years from targeted campaigns to promote legal services, such as paid streaming platforms, helping to reduce piracy. The combination of educational interventions, effective legislation and a competitive legal offer seems to be the key to combating the phenomenon.
Italy’s leadership position in the fight against online piracy is a positive result, but the problem remains relevant at European level. With technological evolution, piracy continues to adapt, exploiting new platforms and access methods. It is therefore essential to strengthen efforts at political, economic and social levels to offer solutions that meet the needs of consumers, without fuelling the illegal market. In this context, digital education and the promotion of accessible legal offers remain essential tools. Only an integrated approach will ensure that the progress made in countries like Italy can be replicated on a larger scale, contributing to a more equitable and sustainable digital ecosystem.
Alessandro Fiorentino