58% of users believe that legal music download services are too expensive, 41% find them difficult to use, and 43% generally do not have access to the songs they like. This is the main reason why people are returning to illegal content sharing.
A recent survey by the American research firm XTN Data indicates that although the subscription model for purchasing music is still growing, as many as two-thirds of users of file-sharing software are unconcerned about the possibility of being sued by record companies.
Greig Harper, Director of XTN Data, stated: “We estimate that around 52 million Americans are using file-sharing programs. Over the past two years, courts have handled 3,500 legal cases related to this issue.”
More than a quarter of Internet users admit to having downloaded pirated DVDs. “While music download services have met some content needs, the lack of similar services in the film and TV sector, combined with high-speed broadband internet connections, has led to a significant increase in illegal video sharing,” Harper remarked.
Video games are also becoming a popular content type for sharing, particularly PC games, followed by console games. The most downloaded games include Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Rome: Total War, and The Sims 2.
P.T. (according to VNUNet)
