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News Release from: TNS Global | Subject: Illegal downloads
Edited by the Marketingservicestalk Editorial
Team on 18 January 2008
Illegal downloads 'less serious' than
shoplifting
Some 38 per cent of UK web users think that downloading files illegally is less serious than shoplifting, according to a survey from global market research specialist TNS.
More needs to be done to stop the music and movie industry suffering from the cost of illegal downloads, but not at the expense of my privacy, say UK internet users While the majority of people (56 per cent) agree that the music and movie industries will continue to suffer from the cost of unauthorised internet downloads, 38 per cent of people feel that illegally downloading music or movies is not as serious as stealing CDs or DVDs from a high street retailer, says global market research specialist TNS
This article was originally published on Marketingservicestalk on 24 Oct 2007 at 8.00am (UK)
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A new survey revealed that although there is an understanding that something needs to be done about illegal downloads, 74 per cent of people feel uncomfortable with the idea of a government body monitoring their internet usage in respect to media files.
Last month France outlined its proposed policy to crack down on internet piracy of music and movies, with internet service providers yielding to government pressure to fight illegal file sharing collectively.
If approved, an independent authority will identify those people downloading files dishonestly, warn them to stop and if they persist, eventually terminate their internet access indefinitely.
When TNS asked if such a policy should be adopted in the UK, the nation is divided with 35 per cent of people agreeing it should be deployed here and 39 per cent thinking it should not.
"When we read recently about the policy put forward by the French government , we wanted to see how UK internet users would respond were this ever to happen in this country," said Amy Cashman, Head of Technology for TNS UK.
"It reminded us of the famous 'three-strikes-and-you're-out' law that was introduced in the US in the 1990s, with harsher punishments for those people who are found to be repeat offenders.
"I can understand why, as a nation, we are divided in our views on deploying this type of policy on unauthorised internet usage in the UK; on one hand we understand that the media business is suffering as a result of those people who abuse the internet, but on the other, we feel slightly uncomfortable with the idea that someone could be 'monitoring' exactly what we do online.
"There is also the question of whether the punishment fits the crime, and is downloading a few music files for free, deserving of a complete online ban? Those involved in the music and movie industries are very keen to increase the 'policing' of the internet to ensure their survival, and this will be the first time that French ISPs have agreed to play a part in stopping illegal downloads.
"I think a lot of countries and industry leaders will be looking to France, to see how a policy of this kind will shape the internet of the future".
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