facts, figures, & findings - CD-ROM sales - Brief Article

Emedia Professional, May, 1999 by Maria Misek

pirated CD-ROM titles have COST software publishers nearly $1 BILLION

Because of its status as one of the world's better-known purveyors of digital copy protection solutions, Macrovision's interest in quantifying the impact of piracy is obvious. Indeed, the company recently sponsored a study-conducted by Merrill Research & Associates-to determine the number of pirated CD-ROM titles currently in use. Based on interviews with more than 300 PC owners, the Merrill survey reports that consumers own more than 30 million unauthorized copies of CD-ROM titles, or one unauthorized copy for every six originals. Moreover, the survey estimates the total value of these pirated copies at $957 million and predicts that the current installed base of CD-R drives in the home will double by 2001. (408/743-8600; http://www.macrovision.com]

head's up' PC PRICES are FALLING'

PC Data, Inc. announced in late March figures from its February Retail Hardware Report, which reveal that Windows-based PCs priced below $1,000 accounted for 62 percent of unit sales that month, down from January's record 65.7 percent. At the same time, though, this figure reflects a 22 percent upswing in unit sales since February 1998. The report also cites a 657 percent growth over last February in the sub-$600 market, which now represents nearly one-fifth of PC sales sold through retail. This growth in the $599 or less market cut into sales of $600 to $1,000 PCs, causing shares in that market to drop 12.9 percent. (703/435-1025; http://www.pcdata.com)