• Research: Internet Piracy Doesn't Damage Music Industry

    A new study published by the European Commission Joint Research Centre found that online piracy is not hurting legitimate sales of digital music products. The researchers studied the behavior of 16,000 Europeans and found that there is a positive relationship between Internet piracy and visits on legal music stores. The study concludes that the music industry does not have to worry about pirates.

    Such studies will be implemented in various forms and dimensions. All of them are designed to give an answer to the question: "Does piracy damages legal sales? ". It seems to be that the Institute for Prospective Technological Studies, which is part of the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission, decided to put an end to this issue. With data from more than 16,000 European Internet users they determined which effect using of a pirated sites has on visiting online music stores.

    "It seems to be that the majority of music products consumed illegally would not be bought legally, also if the users had no access to the sites where it can be downloaded for free"- researchers say.

    I think copyright holders should read the conclusion of the research several times thoughtfully, because the study underlines that every user, who illegally downloads the audio file, is equivalent to the user, who would pay money for this content.

    In addition, the researchers reported that free streaming services such as Spotify, have a stimulating effect on the sales of digital production.

    However, even though the results bring clarity and the conclusion is obvious, the researchers do not wish to make any specific policy recommendations to the copyright holders, they only point out that the music industry does not have to worry about online piracy.

    "The research results and the collected data show that copyright owners from the music industry should not see online piracy as a growing concern. In addition, our results show that the consumption of newest music via streaming services has a positive impact. "

    The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), in turn, called the European Commission study "erroneous and misleading", saying that "Internet pirates do not buy music, they just download it in large volumes and spread it all over the world. This behaviour damages sales." The representative of IFPI also added that a direct violation of copyright brings damage for the musicians and has absolutely no any positive impact on legal sales.

    Source: http://torrentus.to/blog/research-in...-industry.html
    Comments 19 Comments
    1. duke0102's Avatar
      duke0102 -
      They just can't face the fact that the majority of people who pirate something wouldn't buy even if unable to pirate.
      Make something decent and people will buy, take the huge success of GTA V. I appreciate not music but the example is relevant as could have been pirated in the masses instead of bought.
    1. TheFoX's Avatar
      TheFoX -
      The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), in turn, called the European Commission study "erroneous and misleading", saying that "Internet pirates do not buy music, they just download it in large volumes and spread it all over the world. This behaviour damages sales." The representative of IFPI also added that a direct violation of copyright brings damage for the musicians and has absolutely no any positive impact on legal sales.

      And on what basis can the IFPI make this statement? Did they conduct research that proved conclusively that the research was "erroneous and misleading", or did some big wig just quote that, without any research or valid data to back up that assumption.

      I could make a statement such as, 'pirates are more likely to abuse hamsters than any other segment of society', but I would have no valid argument to back my claim, much as the IFPI have no valid argument for their own claim.

      If someone has bothered to do research, should a bunch of pricks be able to rubbish that research, simply because they have 'BOSS!!!' tattooed on their forehead?
    1. duke0102's Avatar
      duke0102 -
      That quote seemed odd to me as well TheFox, your statement is completely true but my thought is why is the porn industry commenting on the music industry anyway? The porn industry is well known for its plagiarism. I mean, c'mon, I highly doubt Marvel allowed all the porn spoof/parody spinoffs.
    1. megabyteme's Avatar
      megabyteme -
      International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI)
      Freud, duke, Freud...
    1. ulun64's Avatar
      ulun64 -
      Just make it affordable!!!! Ppls will just buy it rather than pirate it.
    1. duke0102's Avatar
      duke0102 -
      Quote Originally Posted by megabyteme View Post
      International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI)
      Freud, duke, Freud...
      Haha, I'm so dense lmao
    1. torrentus's Avatar
      torrentus -
      I agree! Very funny research. I found it somewhere so decided to post it for you :-)
    1. TheFoX's Avatar
      TheFoX -
      Piracy doesn't hurt the Music Industry. How do I know this? Simple...

      If it was, the Music Industry would no longer exist, as piracy would have already wiped it out (or more to the point, those funding the industry would have moved to investing in something more lucrative that a piracy deprived income).

      Going back to my younger days, if I liked a song on the radio, I would tape it, and built up quite a collection of songs taped off the radio (the 70's).

      If I liked a film on TV, I would tape it to a VHS. In fact, piracy (or copying media from a distribution network such as radio or television) has been around for roughly half a century or more.

      Copying is not a new thing, and is culturally part of our society. Who bothers to watch a program live any more, when we can tape it (or equivalent) and watch it at our leisure. In fact, in the US the film industry tried to get taping banned, but it was overthrown by a judge who said it would criminalise the entire population who had been taping for decades.

      The simple fact that new acts appear all the time goes to show that the music industry is as healthy today as it was yesterday, or yesteryear.

      As for piracy, there is no evidence that those who download content illegally would have actually gone out and bought the material in the first place, so there is no evidence of lost sales. Also, mediums such as iTunes are still going strong, showing that there is definitely a legal download mechanism in place, proving that piracy has little effect on the music industry (again, if there was a serious effect, Apple would have probably pulled the plug on a money losing venture).

      So, to summarise, all the time they are making money, and not losing it, their industry is not being affected by so called piracy. When they actually start losing money, then they can start complaining.

      Finally, as for piracy affecting artists, this is so much bollocks. Creativity and money have no connection whatsoever. Creativity is from the mind, and does not reflect on how much money you have. Some of the poorest people in the world can be some of the most creative. Money does not affect this. After all, regardless whether you are a millionaire or a pauper, if you have musical talent, you have musical talent.

      I could write a symphony. Whether anyone published it or not is a different matter, but the art of creation cannot be affected by sales. On the flip side, sales can be affected by my symphony. If my symphony is crap, no one will buy it, but if it is a masterpiece, everyone will want some. This is what the industry is frightened of. Artists may decide not to publish their symphony, meaning the investors will lose out on doubling their money, while paying the artist a token amount for their hard work.
    1. IdolEyes787's Avatar
      IdolEyes787 -
      Quote Originally Posted by TheFoX View Post
      Piracy doesn't hurt the Music Industry. How do I know this? Simple...

      If it was, the Music Industry would no longer exist, as piracy would have already wiped it out (or more to the point, those funding the industry would have moved to investing in something more lucrative that a piracy deprived income).
      Replace "hurt" with " really effect" and I would agree.How do I know this you ask?
      If I were to God willing punch you in the arm it would "hurt" but your arm would still continue to exist, if maybe only at a reduced capacity.

      Also when I God willing punch you in the arm I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt and say that you won't cry.Similarly I think not everyone "hurt" by piracy is going to stand on a street corner and whine about it.
    1. TheFoX's Avatar
      TheFoX -
      I doubt whether I'd even notice if you'd punched me in the arm. Last week, a thug punched me in the face. I hardly noticed, but he had to be rushed to A&E with a broken wrist. A month ago, someone tried to kill me by shooting me. The bullet ricocheted off my skin and ripped half his neck out, killing him instantly.

      Being Superman does have its drawbacks. I can never take a sicky, as I am never ill. Still, it has its compensations as well. When going on vacation, I don't have to book passage on an air craft.
    1. megabyteme's Avatar
      megabyteme -
      Again and again, these "hurt" Industries produce all new record sales. That isn't being punched in the arm, it is being advertised freely to a world market.
    1. IdolEyes787's Avatar
      IdolEyes787 -
      Quote Originally Posted by megabyteme View Post
      Again and again, these "hurt" Industries produce all new record sales. That isn't being punched in the arm, it is being advertised freely to a world market.
      Thanks for reinforcing the fact that the quote "Pain is just weakness leaving the body" isn't attributed by a terminal six year old,dying in cancer ward someplace.

      Surprisingly "hurt" is always going to most effect those least able to withstand it.
      That's why if dire times ever happen, Oprah will still cling to the 40 million dollar estate she has in Hawaii long after firing the single mother of two production assistant.

      Also let us adjust all "records" for inflation,the increase in disposable income of 12 year old girls and new technology like iTunes which allow the downloading of single songs. The downloading of singles ,something not possible since the before time of 45's , coincidentally a time when sales also spiked.

      As for the alleged "advertising benefits" of piracy, the 138 million (and counting) views of Miley Cyrus's Wreaking Ball on youtube beg to differ.
    1. renhoek93's Avatar
      renhoek93 -
      Piracy doesn't hurt them it helps them & i think this guy said it best. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEvvvd65kpQ
    1. IdolEyes787's Avatar
      IdolEyes787 -
      If you buy something used I'm assuming that someone still bought it new.So so much for that argument.
      As for I "need" to watch/listen/play it first before I decide that's a cop out. Life isn't about certainties,that's partly what makes it interesting.Or in the case of a guy talking into a webcam about the joys of Hatchet movies, obviously not so much.

      Here's an interesting thought,if you can't afford something ,do without."I want" is not a good defense in court of why you decided to steal it and I'm sure that next time some poor sad broken soul breaks into that youtube wanks place and steals something he values,youtube wank will write it off with a kindly "I'm sure he needed it more than I did,so I'm fine with it".

      As I've said before,if you are going to bend the bounds of morality,then at least own up to that fact.

      I'm sorry but I think that if someone feels such an overwhelming desire to justify his actions ,then somewhere inside he know what he are doing is wrong.
    1. Vestibule's Avatar
      Vestibule -
      I think in the comfort of our own homes we tend to take for granted most of what we do with nary a care in the world how it affects those beyond the four walls. The morality of DLing a few songs or movies or whatever your pleasure... is purely subjective... I've learned to live with it...
      Justification? of course not... unless one was stealing a loaf of bread to survive...
      Then again... if you are stealing that bread to re-sell it... well... fuck off then...
    1. duke0102's Avatar
      duke0102 -
      The 'wrong doing' works on both sides. Fake hype to sell movies, games and music is well known and not illegal when it should be.
      Loads of games where the gameplay demos were all lies and many movies where they show the best bits and when you watch it you realise the 30 seconds advert has the only good bits in. I remember Colonial marines, as an example, as they released gameplay footage that turned out to be complete rubbish and the final product looked nothing like it.
      If it's an argument of morality then I have a clean conscience as both sides are guilty of something down the line.
      I know our laws say it's illegal and I know if I get caught I'll get punished but I don't feel guilty for it.
    1. renhoek93's Avatar
      renhoek93 -
      Quote Originally Posted by IdolEyes787 View Post
      If you buy something used I'm assuming that someone still bought it new.So so much for that argument.
      As for I "need" to watch/listen/play it first before I decide that's a cop out. Life isn't about certainties,that's partly what makes it interesting.Or in the case of a guy talking into a webcam about the joys of Hatchet movies, obviously not so much.

      Here's an interesting thought,if you can't afford something ,do without."I want" is not a good defense in court of why you decided to steal it and I'm sure that next time some poor sad broken soul breaks into that youtube wanks place and steals something he values,youtube wank will write it off with a kindly "I'm sure he needed it more than I did,so I'm fine with it".

      As I've said before,if you are going to bend the bounds of morality,then at least own up to that fact.

      I'm sorry but I think that if someone feels such an overwhelming desire to justify his actions ,then somewhere inside he know what he are doing is wrong.



      I understand your opinion is different from mine & i respect that but really if you cant afford something do with out it look i think what the guy was trying to get at is people wanna spend there money wisely im not gonna pay for something i don't like i Downloaded The Smurfs movie from Ares & watched it & i ended up liking it so when i got money i went to a Target & got the official DVD he does have a point with free advertising & plus the MPAA & RIAA already have enough money anyway were in the new digital age where i don't have to pay shit if i don't want to & its like he said once everything becomes digital
      the industries will no longer exist & there not loosing anything the day i get a filed trip to Hollywood & see that there safe is empty then yes i will feel sorry for them but right now i have no symphony at all.
    1. duke0102's Avatar
      duke0102 -
      The old 'like it, buy it'. I am a strong believer in that. With, currently, 176 steam games and about 20 origin and many more on disc plus a reasonable bluray collection I really do believe in buying what you like. I do keep getting burned when I fall for hype and pre-purchase though lol.

      Also, thanks for not shooting my comment down there Renhoek93
    1. renhoek93's Avatar
      renhoek93 -
      Quote Originally Posted by duke0102 View Post
      The old 'like it, buy it'. I am a strong believer in that. With, currently, 176 steam games and about 20 origin and many more on disc plus a reasonable bluray collection I really do believe in buying what you like. I do keep getting burned when I fall for hype and pre-purchase though lol.

      Also, thanks for not shooting my comment down there Renhoek93



      LOL NP man XD LOL Yeah im not here to argue with anybody im here for fun becuase i love file sharing just as much as the rest of you people LOL.