Two In Three Mobile Industry Professionals Have Downloaded Digital Content Illegally

Published 11th April 2007

Sixty-nine per cent of mobile industry professionals admit to downloading content in the past without appropriate licences from the entertainment industry, according to research collected at 3GSM World Congress...

SafeNet surveyed 350 professionals, from across the global mobile industry*, on their internet downloading habits. More than two-thirds of respondents admitted they downloaded or shared licensed content to their mobile phones or computers without checking for proper licensing or making a payment.

Of the 69 per cent of executives who have downloaded such content, 70 per cent admitting having done so intentionally, while the other 30 per cent state that their actions were accidental. Just 29 per cent of total respondents answered ‘never’ when asked if they have dealt with digital stolen goods, while 2 per cent said they ‘didn’t know’ if they have done it.

“Historically, download models which support legal file sharing were not easily accessible and were difficult for consumers to use. This has led to the proliferation of illegal download and sharing communities,” said Dr. Simon Blake-Wilson, managing director, Digital Rights Management (DRM), SafeNet. “Worldwide, the music and motion picture industries alone lost a combined $22.6 billion to piracy in 2005[1].”

“The key is to use next-generation DRM solutions, which allow paying customers maximum flexibility with the content they own while at the same time assuring the music and film industries that their product is secure from illegal sharing and downloading,” Dr. Blake-Wilson continued.

Forward looking content distributors are now investing in DRM, and according to a recent study[2], worldwide spending on the technology is growing, and will be over $1 billion by the end of 2007.

“We are seeing more companies use next-generation technologies, but this investment needs to become the standard. If inflexible and dated DRM solutions continue to be used to support the download model, illegal downloading will continue, the quality and variety of content from providers will drop, the model will fail, and everyone will lose,” Dr. Blake-Wilson concluded.

* Respondents included handheld manufacturers, content providers, service and network providers

[1] This statistic is based on results from the LEK study conducted by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), and data published by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI).

[2] Insight Research