Rational Choice Theory: Piracy of Electronic Media with Regard to College Students

Rational Choice Theory: Piracy of Electronic Media with Regard to College Students

Dalton H. GrahamMariah J. DuranMatthew M. ResnickMareah R. Adolphs

Preview of the STudyIntroductionReview of the LiteratureAnalysis of the DataSummaryLimitations to the Study Recommendations for Further ResearchConclusion

Introduction

Why it merits researchNature of problemPurpose of study

For students doing reports. (2014). Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved from http://www.riaa.com/faq.php Kruger, B. (2004). Failing intellectual property protection 101: Character education may be the key to piracy prevention. Technical Horizons in Education Journal, 31(9), 48. Retrieved from http://thejournal.com/Articles/2004/04/01/Failing-Intellectual-Property-Protection-101.aspx?Page=1

IntroductionResearch question: What are college students attitudes about the relevance, fairness, and effectiveness of intellectual property laws with regard to piracy of electronic media and do these attitudes enable them to download music, films, and texts free of guilt?

Hypothesis: Intellectual property laws with regard to piracy of electronic media are perceived by college students to be out of date, unfair, and ineffective enabling the majority of them to download music, films, and texts free of guilt.

Review of LiteratureDigital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)Internet Service Providers (ISPs)Defining PiracyGinsburg, J. C. (2007). The pros and cons of strengthening intellectual property protection: Technological protection measures and section 1201 of the United States Copyright Act. Information & Communications Technology Law, 16(3), 191-216. doi: 10.1080/13600830701680453Hart, T. (2010). Copyright reform step zero. Information & Communications Technology Law, 19(2), 147-163. doi: 10.1080/13600834.2010.494051Kaufman, T. (2009). Digital piracy and the industry. Metro, (161), 8. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.loras.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ufh&AN=43927905&site=ehost-live Lee, Y. (2001). A step toward balance? Third-party liability in the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Communications & the Law, 23(1), 27. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.loras.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ufh&AN=4362002&site=ehost-live Lipton, J. (2005). Facilitating fair use in the digital age. Information & Communications Technology Law, 14(3), 279-298. doi: 10.1080/13600830500377012

Review of the LiteratureCollege StudentsAffecting the Industry Rational Choice Theory

Cornish, D. B., & Clarke, R. V. (Eds.). (2014). The reasoning criminal: Rational choice perspectives on offending. New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publishers. Kruger, B. (2004). Failing intellectual property protection 101: Character education may be the key to piracy prevention. Technical Horizons in Education Journal, 31(9), 48. Retrieved from http://thejournal.com/Articles/2004/04/01/Failing-Intellectual-Property-Protection-101.aspx?Page=1 Skinner, W.F. & Fream, A.M. (1997). A social learning theory analysis of computer crime among college students. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 34(4), 495-518. doi: 10.1177/0022427897034004005

Legal DefinitionsCopyright is a common law right of authors, artists, and developers to publish their works, and to prevent others from copying their works. 102 of the U.S. Copyright Law outlines that the following works of authorship are subject to copyright: literary works; musical works (including any accompanying words), dramatic works (including any accompanying music), pantomimes and choreographic works, pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works, motion pictures and other audiovisual works, sound recordings, and architectural works. Copyright Infringement is the intentional or unintentional violation of the exclusive rights of the copyright owner. 106 of the U.S. Copyright Law states the following actions are the exclusive rights of the copyright owner: reproduction of work; preparation of derivative works; distribution of work to the public by sale, rental, lease, or lending; display of work publicly; and performance of work publicly. 504 of the U.S. Copyright Law awards statutory damages to copyright holders if defendants are found guilty of copyright violation. The basic level of damages is between $750 and $30,000 per work.

AnalysisRespondents: 112Chosen via a random number chartLocation: Small, Catholic, liberal arts college in the Midwest

Gender

Year in School

Do you consider yourself knowledgeable about current piracy laws

Demographics ExplainedInitial analysis failed to identify intriguing relationships Demographical analysis revealed important dataMean sample response inaccurately depicts a lack of relationships

Statistical Notes95% level of confidenceStrength of CorrelationsPearson Correlation Coefficient

Simple Observations: Full Sample

Do you consider yourself knowledgeable about current piracy laws?EnforceDeregulateWEAK CORRELATIONQuestion #4NoYes

Simple Observations: Full Sample

Have Not PiratedHave PiratedDo you believe the laws governing piracy of electronic media should be more strictly enforced or deregulated?EnforceDeregulateWEAK CORRELATIONQuestion #6

Correlation Analysis: Full Sample

MODERATE CORRELATION

One-Way Test: Gender

One-Way Test: GEnder

One-Way Test: Year in SchoolOnly 2 significant differences in reported means vs. null hypothesis across all years in school Both differences occurred only between the first-year and sophomore classFirst-Year-Sophomore Paradox

One-Way Test: Knowledgeability

Macro View

Macro View

Macro View

Macro View

SummaryCollege students are committing acts of piracyThose who commit piracy have negative attitudes toward copyright lawValue utility gained from piracy more than fear of repercussions

LimitationsSelf-ReportingAdditional QuestionsDefinition of Terminology Question 6: Do you believe the laws governing piracy of electronic media should be more strictly enforced or deregulated?Question 21: Do you believe piracy of electronic media is wrong?

Further ResearchMotivationsPrevention

ConclusionResearch question: What are college students attitudes about the relevance, fairness, and effectiveness of intellectual property laws with regard to piracy of electronic media and do these attitudes enable them to download music, films, and texts free of guilt?Hypothesis: Intellectual property laws with regard to piracy of electronic media are perceived by college students to be out of date, unfair, and ineffective enabling the majority of them to download music, films, and texts free of guilt.

Rational Choice Theory: Piracy of Electronic Media with Regard to College Students

Dalton H. GrahamMariah J. DuranMatthew M. ResnickMareah R. Adolphs