Nearly third of consumers pirate DVDs: study

The report prepared by Futuresource Consulting, indicates around 1 in 3 consumers polled in the US and in the UK admit to making copies of pre-recorded DVDs in the past 6 months, up over a quarter from the previous year's study.

Males between the ages of 18 to 24 year old males are the most likely to copy commercial DVDs, using either a DVD recorder or a computer software application to handle the duplication. The average number of movies copied in the U.S. was 7 new release and 6 catalog titles while U.K. counterparts copied even more 13 new release and 9 catalog.

"[A]s studios' revenues from DVD are in decline, protecting revenues is even more vital than 12 months ago," the firm said in its report.

The report alluded to magnitude of the profit loss, though actual revenue figures were not revealed. It found that 77 percent of US respondents would have legally purchased the titles if copying was not available, while 63 percent answered similarly in the UK, indicating potential revenue lost to piracy.

Representatives were not available for comment.

Most users are making copies of their own purchased DVDs but a significant proportion are also copying movies they've rented or borrowed. In the case of new movies, 62 percent of US respondents and 49 percent of U.K. respondents say they copied a new movie they own, while 38 percent of U.S. respondents and 30 percent of U.K. respondents say they've copied a movie they've rented.

The research, carried out by Futuresource, was funded by Macrovision, a provider of solutions to secure the delivery and use of software and online content. The firm polled 3,1613 users in the U.S. and 1,718 in the U.K.

Macromedia gained 45 cents, or 3 percent on Tuesday trading to close at $15.67.