The Business Software Alliance - which pronounced the most-recent findings of its Sixth Annual BSA-IDC Global Software Piracy Study - has revealed that one-fifth of all PC software in the US is piracy-hit, with the consequence that it delivered a $9-million blow to the US economy last year.

The study, which was conducted by IDC on behalf of the BSA, also revealed that "international piracy" brought about a $50-billion loss for the software industry on the whole.

The findings of the study indicate while the PC software piracy rate in 2008 remained unchanged in one-third in the 110 countries monitored by the BSA, the rate fell in slightly over half the observed countries. The countries in which piracy increased, the numbers were so lofty that they had an increasing effect on the overall rate software piracy in the world.

In a statement, BCA said: "PC shipments grew fastest in high-piracy countries such as China and India, overwhelming progress elsewhere."

Software piracy has a substantial adverse effect not only on the software-developing companies, but also on local IT industries providing service, support, and distribution.

BSA President Robert Holleyman told the Wall Street Journal that the appointment of an IP czar, by the US President Obama, will help solving the widespread software piracy problem. Holleyman said: "Getting that person on board is critical."