BSA Claims Illegal Downloading Drops Among Youth
The Business Software Alliance (BSA), a commercial software industry lobbying group, has released the results of a recent nationwide survey, which claims that illegal downloading of digital copyrighted works by youngsters aged 8 to 18 has dropped by 24 percent in the last three years. Considering the agenda of this organization, these statistics are subject to the old: Objects in Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear
The survey, first conducted in 2004, indicated that 60 percent of survey participants reported downloading software, music, movies, or games without paying for it; in 2006, the percentage of those who downloaded without paying dropped to 43 percent; and in 2007, the percentage decreased to 36 percent. Youth report that parental oversight is a significant motivator and key influencing factor in their online behavior.
When the young survey participants were asked what worries them about downloading digital copyrighted works, such as software, music, movies or games, from the Internet without paying, the top responses were fear of accidentally downloading a computer virus (62 percent), getting into legal trouble (52 percent) and accidentally downloading spyware (51 percent). Fear of getting in trouble with parents ranked fourth at (48 percent), increasing from 40 percent in 2006.
When comparing the 2007 study “results” with the 2004 and 2006 surveys:
• There was a decrease in the percentage of kids downloading software without paying for it; 11 percent reported illegal downloading in 2007, down from 14 percent in 2006, and in 2004 at 22 percent.
• In 2007, 30 percent of youth admitted to downloading music without paying, compared to 32 percent in 2006 and 53 percent in 2004.
• 8 percent admitted to downloading movies without paying in 2007, down from 10 percent in 2006 admitting downloading without paying, and 17 percent reporting so in 2004.
