P2P (peer-to-peer) users are aware that they are breaking the law, say the researchers of the Helsinki Institute for Information Technology HIIT. Recent survey results published by international law and technology journal Scripted suggest that about half of the users even consider the use of illegal file sharing sites as morally wrong.
Even though survey participants knew what amounted to copyright infringement, they had difficulties in recognising the legal uses of works that copyright law permits.
"The biggest payoff for the illegal file sharers was the immediate access to large catalogue of works which were free of charge and DRM-free. Yet nearly half of the respondents would be willing to pay monthly for a service that enabled unlimited music and video file sharing and downloading", says Herkko Hietanen, a researcher of the HIIT.
The data of the study suggests that rights owners' actions and amendments in the legislation have not had any noticeable impact on file sharing. File-sharers are aware of the punishments but the risk of getting caught was considered miniscule.
The study was made in the Network Society research programme of the HIIT. The HIIT is a joint research institute comprised of the University of Helsinki and the Helsinki University of Technology.
For more information:
Herkko Hietanen, Researcher (Mr.)
Tel. +358 50 384 1547
herkko.hietanen(a)hiit.fi
Original article: http://www.law.ed.ac.uk/ahrc/script-ed/vol5-1/hietanen.asp
Last updated on 17 Apr 2008 by Teemu Mäntylä - Page created on 15 Apr 2008 by Visa Noronen