There’s a German study that was released that suggests that file-sharing is dropping thanks to the warning letters being sent to users.
A study by the music industry claims (Google translation) that file-sharing has dropped from 316 million from last year to 258 million.
“The study refutes the widespread view that it is in sharing users mostly children and teenagers who can not afford the desired products,” says association director Stefan Michalk. The parts in pre-release study that is the “typical file sharers” male and 20-39 years old. Among the 10 – to 19-year-olds do not even use each in ten (9 percent), the illegal deals.
The industry argues that this was a clear sign that sending out warning letters is having a clear effect in the file-sharing world. So we decided to take a look at the study (Google translation, original with graphics, but in German) which was apparently conducted by GfK Media.
The sample size was 10,000 people being followed for 10 years and representing 63.8 million users. The information was based on, of all things, a survey.
With the numbers the German industry tries to show is that most people agree that file-sharing is immoral and that people are leaving the networks entirely.
When reading the study, there is one very noticeable thing that is completely absent, how many people are going on to purchase content afterwards. The big question this particular study does not answer is are people leaving unauthorized sources for authorized sources or are they so sick and tired of mainstream content that they are not even bothering entirely? If one wants to celebrate that file-sharing is decreasing in Germany, wouldn’t it be suitable to, in the same stroke, praise how authorized sources are increasing in customers? While this study touts a victory, it’s, at best, a hollow victory because it shows that the industry has way bigger problems then people downloading illegitimately. When people won’t download your stuff for free, that’s not only a failure, but a real catastrophe for the industry. The problem would be worse then in France where the three strikes law is actually increasing file-sharing.
Have a tip? Want to contact the author? You can do so by sending a PM via the forums or via e-mail at [email protected].
Related Stories
- Study – Legalizing Filesharing and Issuing Flat Rate is the Way to Go
- Study: legal music far outweighs P2P on portable music players
- ‘Study’ By Online Music Licensing Org – File-sharing Makes Pop Music More Popular
- UK P2P Warning Letters by December?
- UK P2P Warning Letters “Falling Behind Schedule”
the reason for the claims is that everyone is moving deep underground to using encrypted sources that cant be monitored.
They seem to be adjusting to the times, but so are the hackers.
Just to make it clear, I was being sarcastic. I was joking that if sending these letters decreased anything, it surely is more effective than the previous tactics which haven’t really solved anything other than giving the industry a black eye.
Actually, I don’t see anything change. According to this report, they say sending out more letters will decrease file-sharing. Then in order to make this work more effective. They will go for more passing the BS laws and make it more easy to suing customers, this will most likely they will do.
Thank GOD! Now they can quit suing their customers and passing bullshit laws.