A Model of Music Piracy

Music piracy has evolved from a minor concern in technology magazines to a major issue discussed almost daily in the media. The industry claims potentially billions of dollars are at stake and we seek to determine why extensive anti-piracy strategies don't appear successful. We propose a Model of Music Piracy and, using a survey, test and validate a section of the model using SEM. The majority of propositions were upheld, but contrary to expectations, age was not significant. All users are well aware of the law, prominent cases, and penalties incurred, however these deterrents do not change behaviour or attitudes to piracy. They feel online anonymity affords some protection, and there is safety in numbers (music companies cannot catch everyone). Our work and other studies suggest a certain level of music piracy is efficacious, and further research should confirm this notion and determine whether an optimum level exists

The Effect of Price-Quality Inference toward Purchase Intention of Counterfeit Shoes with Consumer’s Attitude as Mediating Variable (Study of Andalas University Students Perception)

The research has the purpose to find the effect of price-quality inference toward purchase intention of counterfeit shoes with consumer attitude as mediating variable and case of Andalas University student’s perception. The data obtained troughs questionnaire, and sample were drawn from 100 od Andalas University students. The data analyzed by using SPSS 16 and PLS 3.0. In this research there are three variables, those are independent variable which is price-quality inference, the dependent variable which is purchase intention and mediating variable is consumer’s attitude. The finding indicated that price-quality inference has negative effect toward purchase intention and consumer attitude, consumer attitude has positive effect toward purchase intention but, attitude is not mediating price-quality inference toward purchase intention. Keywords: price-quality inference, consumer attitude, purchase intention, counterfeit shoes

From Intention to Use: A Longitudinal Investigation on Customer Readiness and Facilitating Conditions for Self-Service Technology

This research explores the relationship between intention and actual usage of self-service technology (SST), and investigates the effects of facilitating conditions and customer readiness on customer adoption of SST. To analyze the longitudinal effect, a two-stage survey was conducted and lasted for seven months. As it is well known that behavior intention does not necessary lead to actual behavior, our findings offer proactive strategies to service providers in turning intention into actual usage. Implications for practitioners are provided and several limitations are discussed

Is Music Piracy Normal? Behavioral Effects of Social and Technological Barriers

Music piracy, once a novel issue covered in technology magazines, has become an issue of considerable importance and is discussed regularly in mainstream media. Despite the strategies and alternatives aimed at reducing piracy behaviour, the phenomenon remains a major issue for the industry. This paper continues from previous work by testing a further section of the previously proposed model using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The Economic and Complexity factors were found to be relevant, but, surprisingly, age was unexpectedly found not to be significant. Users from lower income brackets were more likely to engage in music piracy, and the relative complexity of the legal process of music downloading was found to be a barrier to legally downloading music, thus operating to turn users toward music piracy. Our work and other studies suggest that some degree of music piracy is actually beneficial to the industry, and further research should confirm this notion and determine whether an optimum level exists

Managing Dwindling Online Music Sales: Analyzing Factors Affecting Global Music Piracy

Piracy adversely impacts online music sales. This paper aims to investigate the factors that affect global music piracy directly and e-business indirectly. The factors can be clubbed into four categories, (i) economic, (ii) technological (iii)legal/regulatory, (iv) behavioral/cultural. On analyzing the data of 55 countries, Intellectual Property Protection, trade freedom, income inequality and individualism/collectivism index of a country emerge as the most significant factors affecting music piracy. Hence, a nation can reduce its music piracy rate and enhance e-business by devising stricter laws to safeguard intellectual property, allowing more free trade with other countries and bridging the income inequality within a country

Consumer Decision Model of Intelectual Property Theft in Emerging Markets

The increasing importance of digital piracy has prompted research on the behavioural and economics origins of illegal downloading activities. This research focuses on the potential impact of various economic, psychological and social factors on the consumer decision whether to buy or to steal music in emerging markets. These markets present specific difficulties for owners of intellectual property rights due to the high level of both downloading and ‘sharing’ of digital property. Results indicate impacts of price, downloaded music quality, ease of Internet use, attitudes toward music industry and ethical perception of music downloading on consumer purchase or pirate decision

An Affective Model for Unauthorized Sharing of Software

Software piracy has been studied by academics, software firms, law enforcement agents and policy makers for many years. Previous research in software piracy either did not differentiate between unauthorized copying and unauthorized sharing, or focused only on unauthorized copying. We believe the motivating factors behind the two behaviors are quite different because beneficiaries of the behaviors are different. In this paper, we consider unauthorized sharing as a kind of helping behavior and draw on relevant literature to see if the motivations behind unauthorized sharing can be better appreciated from an affective perspective. We tested the affective model of unauthorized sharing based on empirical data obtained from a large-scale survey. We found from the survey that both perceived affordability and perceived convenience could arouse sympathy or annoyance with the unauthorized copier, and their effects were mediated by perceived controllability of the need of unauthorized copying. Our results support the strong effects of affective factors on the moral obligation of unauthorized sharing

Consumer behavior and counterfeit purchase in the Tanzanian mainland

The primary focus of the present study is to examine the influence of moral judgement, subjective norm and self-regulatory efficacy in predicting behavioural intention to purchase counterfeit products among Tanzanian consumers. This study also aims to examine the direct relationship between self-regulatory efficacy and purchase behaviour of counterfeit products. In addition, the present study also fills the gap in the intention-actual behaviour relationship by examining the moderating effect of idolatry on the relationship between consumers’ behavioural intention and purchase behaviour of counterfeit products. The present study also aims to examine to what extent intention to purchase counterfeit products contributes to the purchase behaviour of counterfeit products among Tanzanian consumers.It is an attempt to develop a conceptual framework for determining purchasing behaviour of counterfeit products in Tanzania. The aim is to provide adequate information to marketers on how to reap the expected benefits of sales as well as to facilitate prompt decision-making by the government through the execution and implementation of stringent regulations

Digital Piracy of MP3s: Consumer and Ethical Predispositions

Purpose – Illegal downloading of music has become an inexorable and rampant activity particularly among college students who have been little deterred by industry legal actions. The purpose of this research is to examine the present state of downloading and how ethical orientation and attitudes towards MP3 piracy impact such activities. The paper also aims to use ethical scenarios as a way of understanding the ethical reasoning in illegal downloading. Design/methodology/approach – Key research questions are proposed that are related to illegal downloading. A sample of 364 university students was used to examine each research question. Statistical results are reported. Findings – The results clearly show that downloading continues at a high rate today driven by a strong belief that it is not ethically wrong. Ethical orientation was found to be positively associated with awareness of the social cost of downloading, consequences of downloading, and ethical belief in downloading. Ethical scenarios show that ethical orientation is also associated with downloading activities and with stealing. Other results indicate that respondents believe that their peers are more prone to stealing music and downloading MP3s illegally. Fear of consequences does seem to have an impact on the propensity to download illegally. Practical implications – The paper contributes to inform industry representatives that appeals to ethics or guilt are not likely to deter illegal downloading measurably. The use of punishment for downloaders may have a short-term effect but other (more positive) measures are required. Originality/value – No research has examined downloading of MP3s in the manner developed in this paper. The paper contributes to a better understanding of consumer behavior among those who download. The results provide insight into a serious problem in the recording industry that is likely to persist in the distant future unless sound measures are developed

A case for using a social cognitive model to explain intention to pirate software

Journal of eHealth Technology and Application, 7(2), 87-9