Australian consumers say they are now more tempted to obtain pirated copies of goods such as software and music due to the deteriorating economy, a new Newspoll survey reveals.
The survey of 700 people found that 64% of consumers are now more tempted by offers of easily accessed pirated material, but the impact of pirated material on Australian jobs makes people less likely to engage in piracy.
The survey also found that respondents in the 18 to 34 age category are more likely to download pirated material than those aged over 50 years.
Nearly 80% of the survey’s respondents said that knowing piracy would hurt Australian jobs would stop them from supporting piracy, while over 66% said knowing they would receive a fine would deter them.
The industry bodies that commissioned the poll, which include the Business Software Alliance and the Interactive Entertainment Association of Australia, say a 10% reduction in piracy over four years would create 3929 jobs in the software industry.
Patrick Stafford is a freelance journalist and a former deputy editor of SmartCompany.
