Asia's software piracy rate rose to 51 percent in 2000 from 47 percent the previous year.
Estimates indicate that one in every three business software applications was a bogus copy.
The BSA said Asian piracy rates were rising in line with the region's information technology development. Japan's piracy rate increased to 37 percent from 31 percent, reflecting the highest dollar losses for the Asian region. South Korea rose to 56 percent from 50 percent, China to 94 percent from 91 percent and Vietnam topped the list at 97 percent, up from 98 percent. Countries in the Asia Pacific which had improved were Malaysia at 66 percent down from 71 percent, the Philippines at 61 percent, down from 70 percent, Singapore at 50 percent down from 51 percent and Thailand at 79 percent down from 81 percent. Jeffrey Hardee, vice president of BSA's Asia regional office, told Reuters.