Fighting Pirates

In 2001, roughly one in every four pieces of software in use was obtained illegally or was used without a license, according to the Business Software Alliance, the software industry's trade association, which commissioned the study.

In 2002, overall piracy dropped 2 percent, to 23 percent, the study found. Still, the cost of software piracy-in terms of lost jobs, wages and tax revenues-rose from $1.8 billion in 2001 to $1.9 billion last year, the study said.

The report rated the 50 states in terms of biggest reduction in piracy rates since 2001, as well as lowest piracy rates overall.