European Web downloads cost euro10 billion in '08

BRUSSELS

An entertainment industry study says Europeans downloaded euro10 billion worth of pirated music, film, television shows and software from the Web in 2008.

It estimated that digital piracy cost some 185,000 jobs across the 27-nation European Union.

Technology consultants Tera prepared the report for the International Chamber of Commerce.

Media and entertainment companies and trade unions say there needs to be higher awareness that downloading copyrighted content is illegal.