Australians lead the world in internet piracy

Australians are now the most prolific downloaders of illegal copies of television shows on the internet per capita, a new report from the Australian Institute of Criminology finds.

Australians are now the most prolific downloaders of illegal copies of television shows on the internet per capita, a new report from the Australian Institute of Criminology finds.

The Intellectual Property Crime and Enforcement in Australia report found that cheaper broadband and new software applications are making downloading easier than ever.

But the report says the downloading is affecting the television industry, claiming networks are losing hundreds of millions of dollars.

As a result of piracy growth, many networks in the United States and in Australia show full episodes online, and “fast-track” shows from overseas, scheduling them quicker than usual.

But the trend isn’t helping – the report claims the industry is losing $45 million annually, but after tax losses and secondary revenues, this rises to $200 million.