Rate of pirated software users in India reduced just by one point in 2011 as compared to 2010, a latest study said on Tuesday.

According to 2011 Global Software Piracy Study done by independent firm Business Software Alliance (BSA), 63 per cent of Indians used pirated software out of 500 individuals surveyed between February and March 2012 as compared to 64 per cent last year.

Though the rate was down slightly, the commercial value of such piracy increased during the last one year, because of rise in sales of personal computers.

"The commercial value of software piracy was $2.7 billion in 2010 that increased to $2.9 billion in 2011 as prices of such software also increased during the year," Ms Lizum Mishra, Director, BSA India, told reporters.

Correction:This storyhas erroneously quoted a Business Software Alliance spokesperson that the commercial value of software piracy had increased as prices of such software also increased during the year. BSA has clarified that the increase in the number of PC usage has led to the increase in the commercial value of pirated software. The error is regretted.

>ronendrasingh.s@thehindu.co.in