Dominating DVD piracy

According to a recent report, the "ready availability" of pirated materials has caused a slowdown in the film, TC, and music industries after years of uninterrupted growth.

The news is attributed to a new 400-page report from the Paris-based Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, which represents the world's 30 richest nations, according to Ad Week.

The report notes declining royalties, fewer performers under contract, and job losses across the board.

Piracy has also reportedly become so ubiquitous that consumers don't know whether what they're buying is fake or not. The organization anticipates the problem to get worse, thanks to "online transfers."

Organized crime groups currently dominate the sales of counterfeit DVDs, CDs and software. However, their role would taper if online transfers take over, putting the piracy in users' hands altogether.