Illegal File
Sharing Continues to Grow Despite Legal Action
Recently released data from research consultancy
XTN Data shows that file sharing over the internet continues to grow and that
most users are unconcerned by potential legal action.
Two thirds of people using file sharing software to
access music were
not concerned by legal action by record labels. Greig
Harper, founder of
XTN Data commented, "We estimate there to be 52 million
people in the US
using file sharing software. In the past two years legal
action in the
US has seen 3,500 cases resolved."
The survey results show that legitimate music
download services are
rising in popularity but 58% thought they were
expensive, 41% thought
they were difficult to use and 43% said they didn't
offer music they
were interested in. Users who were disappointed with
legitimate music
download services were more likely to illegally download
music.
For the first time ever illegal download of movies
and TV content
overtook demand for music downloads. 26% of internet users
said they
used the internet to download DVDs with those under thirty most
likely
to do so. Greig Harper noted, "While the legal music download
services
have legitimised some of the demand for music content the lack
of
comparable services in the movie and TV sector combined with
the
increase in faster internet connections have helped fuel demand
for
video content."
Computer games were also popular downloads with 11%
obtaining games this
way. While PC games were most commonly sought, demand
for console titles
were close behind. Popular downloads included GTA: San
Andreas, Rome
Total War and The Sims 2. GTA averaged 75 downloads an hour
over the
period it was monitored.
Source: XTN Data
