In many countries where piracy rates are high, those risks aren't as high because of a lack of enforcement, he said.

An earlier IDC/BSA study indicated that if a drop in the piracy rate of 10 points to 25 percent would create as many as 2.4 million jobs, add $400 billion to worldwide economic growth and generate $67 billion in tax revenues, according to the study.

"We're going to fight for the goal of eliminating piracy, but we also recognize the need to see year-over-year progress," Holleyman said.

The report is available here: http://www.bsa.org/globalstudy/pressreleases/2006-Global-Piracy-Study.cfm