Developing countries may benefit from software piracy, according to a new study.
These are the conclusions from a paper titled "The Impact of Software Piracy on Inclusive Human Development: Evidence from Africa", based on a study conducted by the African Governance and Development Institute.
One of the main findings of the study was that "software piracy increases literacy".
"Adoption of tight IPRs regimes may negatively affect human development by diminishing the literacy rate and restricting diffusion of knowledge," the authors of the study writes.
However, the report also found that countries that had stronger respect for copyright also tend to have better economies and life-expectancies.
"Adherence to international IPRs (Intellectual Property Rights) protection treaties (laws) may not impede per capita economic prosperity and could improve life-expectancy," the study found, although it could be more that countries that have better economies have citizens that have less need to pirate.
But elsewhere, it appears that tougher copyright enforcement may have negatively impact on people's ability to improve their lives.
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