Online piracy is a global problem in regards to both consumers and industry groups. Expensive media, low incomes and cheap digital technology are said to be the primary reasons for rampant media piracy.

In 2010, the U.S. Government Accountability Office announced that previously estimated figures “could not be substantiated,” and the folks at Backgroundcheck.org have put together some figures:

Via: Background Check Resource

Some key figures – In 2008, pirated content accounted for 41% of all installed PC software, which translated to a loss of $51 billion. Movie piracy costs movie studios roughly $25 billion a year.

Interestingly, men and women are equally prone to piracy, and the study shows that Democrats tend to steal more digital music than Republicans, at 35% and 24% respectively. Likewise, it has been reported that voters are more concerned with online censorship than piracy regardless.