Illegal file sharing by millions of people in the UK is
inflicting huge economic losses, according to a
report
published today.
Almost seven million Britons have illegally downloaded films,
music and software, many on a regular basis, researchers said.
Based on one file sharing network, researchers said its 1.3
million users could easily consume £12bn worth of copyright content
in a year.
This will only increase, the researchers said, as
next-generation broadband connections enable users to download
films in just three minutes at 50mbps.
The Strategic
Advisory Board for Intellectual Property (SABIP), which
commissioned the research, said widespread confusion about
copyright law was exacerbating the problem.
Intellectual property minister David Lammy said the copyright
industries in the UK are suffering huge losses, and the report
helps put the scale of the problem in context.
But he said the problem was not confined to the UK so other EU
states will find the report of use in the development of
policy.
Dame Lynne Brindley, SABIP board member, said the report
provides evidence to help develop a clear research strategy to
support policy development in this area.
Based on the research, the SABIP has identified several key
issues to research, such as whether people's behaviour would change
if they knew they were not anonymous online.