Mandel and Suessmuth (2012)

Source Details

Mandel and Suessmuth (2012)
Title:	Determinants of Digital Piracy: A Re-Examination of Results
Author(s):	Mandel, P., Suessmuth, B.
Year:	2012
Citation:	Mandel, P. and Suessmuth, B. 2012. Determinants of Digital Piracy: A Re-Examination of Results. Jahrbucher Fur Nationalokonomie Und Statistik, 232, 394-413.
Link(s):	Definitive , Open Access
Key Related Studies:	Bounie et al (2007) Moores and Chang (2006) Hinduja (2007) Goles at al (2008)
Discipline:	D1: Household Behavior and Family Economics D12: Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis L8: Industry Studies: Services L82: Entertainment • Media L86: Information and Internet Services • Computer Software O3: Technological Change • Research and Development • Intellectual Property Rights O32: Management of Technological Innovation and R&D
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About the Data
Data Description:	We conducted our survey during the seven months from April to October 2006. The participants were recruited online and offline. More than 1500 emails containing a URL directing to our survey’s web page were sent. This was the case in October 2006 when 222 subjects had participated. The implied response rate was about 15%.
Data Type:	Primary data
Secondary Data Sources:
Data Collection Methods:	Quantitative Collection Methods Survey Research (quantitative; e.g. sales/income reporting)
Data Analysis Methods:	Descriptive statistics (counting; means reporting; cross-tabulation) Regression Analysis
Industry(ies):	Software publishing Sound recording and music publishing Film and motion pictures Television programmes
Country(ies):	Germany
Cross Country Study?:	No
Comparative Study?:	No
Literature review?:	No
Government or policy study?:	No
Time Period(s) of Collection:	April - October 2006
Funder(s):

Abstract

This paper empirically investigates determinants of digital piracy in Germany for several types of digitized products. To this end we rely on a survey comprising behavior and attitudes at the individual level. The sample matches some demographic characteristics of the German population with high-speed internet access with regard to gender and age composition. It also maps the share of foreign nationals in Germany. Self-selection in the drawing of our sample is assessed by a control experiment. In contrast to existing studies, we sharply discriminate between frequency and extent of pirating digital media. We find no significant gender difference in the propensity to pirate. However, male individuals are prone to pirate at a significantly larger scale.We attribute this finding to male individuals acting more frequently as hubs in the social prestige enhancing distribution of pirated media. It is particularly important in the light of the recent development of the distribution process from peer-to-peer online networks to offline forms of file swapping. Our findings are confirmed by recent piracy related crime statistics of the Federal Office of Criminal Investigation (Bundeskriminalamt).

Main Results of the Study

• We find no significant gender difference in the propensity to pirate.

• However, male individuals are prone to pirate at a significantly larger scale.We attribute this finding to male individuals acting more frequently as hubs in the social prestige enhancing distribution of pirated media. It is particularly important in the light of the recent development of the distribution process from peer-to-peer online networks to offline forms of file swapping. Our findings are confirmed by recent piracy related crime statistics of the Federal Office of Criminal Investigation (Bundeskriminalamt).

Policy Implications as Stated By Author

As we identified a gender gap for the extent but not for the frequency of pirating , our findings do not justify the current practice of campaign policies exclusively aimed at deterring male individuals. Against the recent finding of offline mp3 file sharing showing positive net effects on music CD consumption through sampling effects, the current practise of integrating the major occurrences of digital piracy in campaigns is questionable. Combining these insights with our findings suggest to refrain from deterring file swapping in the case of digital music and to consider campaigns addressing male as well as female individuals.

Coverage of Study

Coverage of Fundamental Issues

Issue	Included within Study
Relationship between protection (subject matter/term/scope) and supply/economic development/growth/welfare
Relationship between creative process and protection - what motivates creators (e.g. attribution; control; remuneration; time allocation)?
Harmony of interest assumption between authors and publishers (creators and producers/investors)
Effects of protection on industry structure (e.g. oligopolies; competition; economics of superstars; business models; technology adoption)
Understanding consumption/use (e.g. determinants of unlawful behaviour; user-generated content; social media)

Coverage of Evidence Based Policies

Issue	Included within Study
Nature and Scope of exclusive rights (hyperlinking/browsing; reproduction right)
Exceptions (distinguish innovation and public policy purposes; open-ended/closed list; commercial/non-commercial distinction)
Mass digitisation/orphan works (non-use; extended collective licensing)
Licensing and Business models (collecting societies; meta data; exchanges/hubs; windowing; crossborder availability)
Fair remuneration (levies; copyright contracts)
Enforcement (quantifying infringement; criminal sanctions; intermediary liability; graduated response; litigation and court data; commercial/non-commercial distinction; education and awareness)

Datasets

Sample size:	222
Level of aggregation:	Individual
Period of material under study:	2006