A new report requested from the bi-partisan U.S. Government Accountability Office has found that while piracy does have a negative effect on the U.S. economy, the data provided from many industry funded research is not based on sound finance. "Each method (of measuring) has limitations, and
most experts
observed that it is difficult, if not impossible, to quantify the
economy-wide
impacts."
The GAO even found some "potential positive economic effects of counterfeiting and piracy." According to the study, "consumers may use pirated goods to 'sample' music, movies, software, or electronic games before purchasing legitimate copies," potentially leading to "increased sales of legitimate goods."
