Piracy a threat to cultural workers

A recently published report titled predicts that 1,2 million jobs in the European cultural industry could be lost by 2015. Over the same period, the cultural industry could lose as much as €240 billion. The report assumes that no significant changes are made to the legislation.

In 2008, the sectors most affected by piracy (television series, films, music recordings and computer games/software) experienced the loss of 185,000 jobs and a total loss of sales of 10 billion euros as a result of piracy and illegal file sharing.

Umbrella organizations such as UNI-MEI – which represents unions in the arts, media, entertainment – ​​FIA (International Federation of Actors) and other affiliated member organizations such as FIAPF (International Federation of Film Producers' Association) and CEPI (European Coordination of Independent TV Producers) support the study, which documents the dramatic consequences of illegal file sharing for the cultural industry.

The report, conducted by independent Paris-based firm TERA Consultants and recently released at a press conference in Brussels, is the first EU report to provide a comprehensive picture of the creative sectors and their key contribution to the EU economy.