Music piracy in the European Union is showing signs of stabilization according to the European Union Intellectual Property Office's (EUIPO) latest 2023 report. Here are the key findings:

Overall Piracy Trends:

• EU piracy stabilized at 10.2 accesses per internet user monthly in 2023
• Music piracy accounts for only 0.6 accesses per user monthly
• Current music piracy rates are approximately 25% of 2017 levels
• Slight increase in TV and music piracy between 2022-2023

Most Common Piracy Methods:

• Stream-ripping remains the dominant method, accounting for nearly 50% of illegal consumption
• Downloading is the second most common approach
• Streaming follows in third place
• Torrenting shows minimal usage

Country-Specific Insights:

• Stream-ripping prevalence by country:
  • Denmark: 63%
  • Hungary: 67%
  • Greece and Slovenia: 68%
• Ireland shows different patterns:
  • 25% streaming
  • 42% downloading
  • Combined 67% of total music piracy

Key Factors Contributing to Declining Piracy:

• Growth of legitimate streaming services
• Increased actions against illegal platforms
• Improved accessibility of legal streaming options
• Competitive pricing in many EU markets
• Convenience of legal streaming versus piracy risks

The majority of music piracy now occurs on mobile devices rather than desktop computers, reflecting broader digital consumption trends. The continued expansion of legal streaming services, combined with enforcement efforts, suggests this flattening trend may continue.

Related Articles

Previous Articles