"...Macrovision UK announced today that BBC Worldwide will use SafeDisc CD-ROM copy protection on its new multimedia title, The Tweenies. This is another important breakthrough for SafeDisc into non-games titles following its success in the software gaming industry last year. The increasing market penetration of CD-recordable devices has led to software publishers rethinking their protection strategies for traditionally unprotected products in the educational, reference and business application areas.

The total estimated value of unauthorized copies of PC application software CD-ROMs among consumer households is estimated to approach $675 million in 1999 in the U.S., according to a study sponsored by Macrovision Corporation and conducted in February, 2000 by San Mateo, CA-based Merrill Research & Associates. In 69% of the cases where unauthorized copies were made or borrowed, respondents indicated they would have purchased the software if copying were not an option.

The survey found that 20% of surveyed households have a CD-recordable drive currently installed in their household/home office. This represents a dramatic 200% increase in one year over the percentage of households that reported owning CD-recordable drives in Merrill Research's March 1999 study.

CD-recordable drives have only become widely available at affordable consumer price points under $200 within the past two years. The worldwide installed base of consumer-priced CD-recordable drives is expected to reach over 77 million in the next two years, with 35% in the U.S. and 30% in Europe. The International Recording Media Association forecasts that the replication of CD-R discs will exceed 1.3 billion units this year compared to 850 million units in 1999 worldwide. Given the fact that these discs can be purchased at retail for 60 cents, it is easy to see why CD-recordable drives have become one of the most popular consumer electronics products to become available in years..." NULL