U.S. companies reported a loss of $23.8...

U.S. companies reported a loss of $23.8 billion in 1986 because of foreign piracy of U.S. patents, trademarks and copyrights, according to a U.S. International Trade Commission study. The ITC said actual losses are much greater because not all companies filled out questionnaires on the subject. The commission said it received responses from 431 companies. The questionnaire was sent to 736 U.S. companies, including all those on the Fortune 500 list. Industries hardest hit by intellectual property piracy include scientific, medical and photographic equipment, computers and software, electronics, entertainment, motor vehicles and pharmaceuticals.