Swashbuckling Students: An Exploratory Study of Internet Piracy

This study examines the occurrence of internet piracy among college students, as well as identifying variables related to pirating behaviours, using multiple regression to examine the ability of variables traditionally associated with deviance to predict internet piracy.

Abstract

Advancements in computer technology have led to the development of a new form of criminal offence: internet piracy. Internet piracy, or the illegal duplication and reproduction of copyrighted music, movies, and computer software costs entertainment and software companies billions of dollars annually. Despite the escalating costs due to internet piracy, to date few studies have examined the incidence of internet piracy. The present study attempts to rectify this lack of research attention by examining the occurrence of internet piracy among college students, as well as identifying variables related to pirating behaviours. Surveys were distributed to 114 college students at a medium-sized land grant University in the upper Mid-West. Multiple regression is used to examine the ability of variables traditionally associated with deviance (e.g., social bonding and strain variables) to predict internet piracy. Findings from this study, as well as limitations and recommendations for future research, are presented.