Lindgren (2012)

Source Details

Lindgren (2012)
Title:	Pirate Panics: Comparing news and blog discourse on illegal file sharing in Sweden
Author(s):	Simon Lindgren
Year:	2012
Citation:	Lindgren, Simon. Pirate panics: comparing news and blog discourse on illegal file sharing in Sweden. Information, communication & society 16.8 (2013): 1242-1265.
Link(s):	Definitive , Open Access
Key Related Studies:	Lessig (2004) Gantz and Rochester (2005) Oberholzer-Gee and Strumpf (2007) Li (2009) Cohen (1972)
Discipline:	K4: Legal Procedure; the Legal System; and Illegal Behavior K42: Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law L1: Market Structure; Firm Strategy; and Market Performance L17: Open Source Products and Markets L6: Industry Studies: Manufacturing L8: Industry Studies: Services L82: Entertainment • Media O3: Technological Change • Research and Development • Intellectual Property Rights O33: Technological Change: Choices and Consequences • Diffusion Processes O34: Intellectual Property and Intellectual Capital
Linked by:

About the Data
Data Description:	Discursive text analysis of news articles and blogs
Data Type:	Secondary data
Secondary Data Sources:	Newspaper articles Blog posts
Data Collection Methods:	Quantitative Collection Methods Quantitative data/text mining Qualitative Collection Methods Document Research Qualitative content/text mining
Data Analysis Methods:	Quantitative Analysis Methods Social Network Analysis Qualitative Analysis Methods Textual Content Analysis Discourse Analysis
Industry(ies):	Programming and broadcasting Creative, arts and entertainment Film and motion pictures
Country(ies):	Sweden
Cross Country Study?:	No
Comparative Study?:	Yes
Literature review?:	No
Government or policy study?:	No
Time Period(s) of Collection:	January 2009 to June 2009
Funder(s):

Abstract

This article aims to map discourses and counter-discourses through which online piracy has been framed and constructed in Swedish blogs and online news. It has been common in previous analyses of moral public debates about new forms of media consumption to focus on conservative top-down hegemonic processes of reinstating order. The classic moral panic literature overemphasizes control, power and hegemony while overlooking counter-discourses. This study, on the other hand, takes such forms of symbolic resistance into account. It relies on a comparative discursive network analysis of texts produced by corporate news organizations and of blogs representing pro-piracy perspectives. It is concluded that with the blurring of the boundaries between producers and consumers of content, more and more localized moral panics that are not necessarily hegemonic are likely to be seen. Panic reactions can run not only from the top down but also from the bottom up as niche and micro media instigate their own moral panics.

Main Results of the Study

• Mainstream discourse in Sweden on the subject of piracy during the first half of 2009 can be likened to a moral panic
• Both the news articles (anti-piracy) and blog posts (pro-piracy) use the linguistic markers of a moral panic, from opposing sides
• The existence of a moral panic on both sides of the debate points to a lack of hegemony on either side - today's culture is fragmented and audiences are segmented
• Future studies must examine the counter-constructions of the subcultures in addition to the identified prevailing dominant culture

Policy Implications as Stated By Author

• There is no hegemony in the debate on file sharing
• Both sides cast each other as folk devils
• Moral panics happen when cultural or social events outrun the legislation of the day
• For legislation to accurately and fairly reflect the views of society as a whole, these separate parts must all be examined

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:	279
Level of aggregation:	Individual data
Period of material under study:	January 2009 - June 2009

Sample size:	294
Level of aggregation:	Individual data
Period of material under study:	January 2009 to June 2009