Survey Shows US Downloaders Unmoved By Copyright Concerns

by Glen Shapiro, LawAndTax-News.com, New York

02 February 2004

According to a survey recently conducted in the United States by market research firm, Harris Interactive, the majority of those involved in downloading music from the internet are unconcerned about the copyright implications, viewing the practice as an essentially innocent one.

According to Harris Interactive, three quarters of the 2,306 adults questioned for the poll agreed with the statement that: "Downloading and then selling the music is piracy and should be prohibited. Downloading for personal use is an innocent act aand should not be prohibited."

Over half of those questioned also felt that downloading music was no different to purchasing a second-hand CD, or borrowing and recording music from a friend.

The firm further revealed that this attitude was more likely to be found in teens and young adults, with 70% of 18 to 24 year-olds agreeing with it, and 66% of 25 to 29 year-olds.

Speaking following the release of the survey results last week, Robert Leitman, division president of Policy and Media Research observed that:

"All of this suggests that the music industry is fighting an uphill battle in winning the hearts and minds of Americans to support prohibitions against downloading. Their opportunity is to make the as yet unmade link in the public’s consciousness between downloading and its financial impact on musicians and recording companies."

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