Peer-to-Peer Network Security

By rhea

A study by information systems researchers at the University of Arkansas shows that as many as three out of four college students may be illegally copying and downloading digital material, including copyright-protected music, movies and software.

The finding confirms nationwide data that most students have pirated digital material. However, while the percentage is dramatic, the number of students pirating now is likely decreasing, the researchers said, as entertainment companies and universities implement more advanced and comprehensive prevention technologies.

The researchers found that people pirate digital media because they possess the ability and resources to do so, and because it is easy to copy and download copyrighted music and movies. Furthermore, the study revealed that once an individual participates in piracy, the intention to repeat the illegal behavior increases.

Why Do It?

To better understand why digital piracy occurs and what influences an individual’s intent to illegally copy and download copyrighted material, Cronan and Sulaiman Al-Rafee, assistant professor of information systems at the University of Kuwait, sampled 280 students – 164 male students and 116 female students – from a business college at a university in the Midwest.

Through questionnaires, the researchers asked the students to comment on their behavior and beliefs about piracy. The questions were related to various hypotheses about six factors, identified in previous research, that influence the intention to pirate digital material: intention, attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, past piracy behavior and moral obligation.

 76.5 % Students had pirated material

 30.6% Students reported participating in a “large amount” of digital piracy

 50% Students pirated a “small amount.”

Gender Gap

There were significant differences between male and female students. Of all students who had pirated:

 65.1% male

 34.9% female

As for factors that influence the decision to illegally copy and download material, the researchers found that past piracy behavior – defined as the frequency of occurrence of digital piracy in the past – had the greatest effect on the intent to pirate. Subjects who had previously pirated had a higher intention to pirate in the future, especially as the frequency of piracy increased.

75% of the students thought illegal copying and downloading of copyrighted material is OK

More than eight out of 10 subjects – 84.3%, specifically – reported that it was easy or very easy to pirate digital media, and only 0.35 found it “hard” or “very hard” to pirate.

 44% of the students indicated a favorable attitude toward digital piracy

 23.6% had a less favorable attitude

 32.5% were neutral.

This means that more than 75% of the students thought illegal copying and downloading of copyrighted material was OK or had no opinion about it. Not surprisingly, the researchers found that those who had a more favorable attitude toward piracy had a higher intention to pirate.

Crying Loss

Recording and film companies have reported significant financial loss due to piracy. According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), there was a decline of 31 percent in music sales from 1999 to 2002 due to illegal copying and downloading of copyrighted material.

The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) estimates that the industry worldwide lost about $18.2 billion in 2005 because of piracy.

RIAA did the exact same complaint when music went to cassettes (remember those) and CDs. The MPAA also ranted and complained about VCR (remember those) and DVDs.

Reality

Those who download illegal copies of music over networks are the biggest consumers of legal music options, according to a new study by the BI Norwegian School of Management. Researchers (translated into english) examined the music downloading habits of more than 1,900 Internet users over the age of

15, and found that illegal music connoisseurs are significantly more likely to purchase music than the average, legal user.

RIAA and MPAA have always made money . . . billions of dollars off of quality product. I do not think anyone is downloading the latest Bee Gees or pirating Super Babies: Baby Geniuses 2.