Promote legal alternatives to stop unlawful downloading says study

The promotion of legal alternatives, rather than the risk of prosecution, is more likely to change unlawful file sharing behaviour, according to new research. The study by academics from the University of East Anglia (UEA), Lancaster University and Newcastle University found that the supposed benefit of online file sharing predicts unlawful behaviour, but not perceived risk, suggesting that either current laws are not enough of a deterrent or threatening people with prosecution is not effective. The researchers say that in order to compete with unlawful file sharing (UFS), easy access to information about the benefits of legal purchases or services should be given in a way that meets the specific benefits UFS offers in terms of quality, flexibility of use and cost. The team looked at the extent to which the unlawful sharing of music and eBooks is motivated by the perceived benefits as opposed to the legal risks. Involving almost 1400 consumers, the research explored people's ability to remain anonymous online, their trust in the industries and UK legal regulators such as Ofcom, and their ing behaviour. T he findings, published in the journal Risk Analysis, show that people who trust regulators think file sharing is riskier. Those who think file sharing is risky do not think it is beneficial and vice versa, which indicates what the researchers' call emotional and non-rational thinking.