Digital Piracy Analysis

Background on Digital Piracy

Digital piracy refers to the general use of digital resources and capabilities (in some cases, hardware and reverse engineering) to illegally copy, hijack digital protection and distribute counterfeited or modified digital commercial products like software, music, films, electronic books, online journals and among others, without the consent to the legal owner. (Higgins, 2008) The evolution of information technology can be attributed for the rise and propagation of digital piracy. (Ramayah, 2009)

Software is one of the leading products distributed online. Thus, the software industry is one of the most targeted industry by piracy. (Arli, 2014) This has caused the industry to suffer declines in profitability. (Ramayah,

Full-fledged software like Adobe Photoshop, AutoDesk AutoCAD, Microsoft Office which are considered as industry standards, are expensive. Open source software, which are often free, do exist but offer much lesser feature package.

Technical Factors

The evolution of information technology can be attributed for the rise and propagation of digital piracy. (Ramayah, 2009) Piracy rate is inferred to be inversely varying with the quality of information technology system in a country. (Bagchi, 2006) Countries with better equipped computing systems and environment are shown to have lower piracy rates than those with poorly equipped systems.

This information technology system includes the internet. The internet is often viewed as the main driving force for the increase of digital piracy rates as it made file sharing much easier and readily available. In fact, five of the six most common mediums of digital piracy exists because of the internet. Thus, faster internet may mean better access to pirated products in developing countries.

Regulatory

(Higgins, 2008) Individual with lack of empathy are found to be insensitive to the feelings and hard work of the legal owner.

Piracy by impulsiveness can be demonstrated by the impatience to a certain material. For example, a digital book may be released to a certain country but not to his country yet. An impulsive person may opt to obtain a copy by piracy and not wait until it is released in his country. This is true for many films in cinema and other works.

Conclusion and Recommendations

Digital piracy rate in developing countries is found to be mainly related to the economic standing and environment, technical advancement of the country, the regulation and enforcement of laws, and the acceptance of the society. For economy, overpricing and income inequality are found to be promoting piracy; for technicality, the advancement of IT systems and the internet; for regulation, the weak enforcement of the laws; and for the social aspect, the acceptance of the society of piracy as a norm.

The study has severed lack of data and is primarily based on previous studies conducted before 2010. The data and conclusions hereby drawn may no longer be relevant.

In light of these conclusions, the following recommendations are