The digital media industry needs to offer more legal ways to access content, such as streaming and micropayment systems, to overcome piracy, suggests research by BDRC Continental.

According to James Myring, director of media and internet research, the findings show that “the availability of legitimate alternatives like Spotify and other streaming sites has reduced piracy”. Streaming content is of particular interest to content owners, because it keeps them in control of their content.

“Users get annoyed by having on-demand stuff taken down after a week. They want content whenever and wherever they are. It’s reasons like this that prompt some to download illegally. The industry has much to do” said Myring.

The study distinct four types of pirates: 1) the super-pirate, 2) the casual pirate, 3) the second hand pirate and 4) the unwitting pirate.

Most harmful to digital content companies are the super-pirates. This type of pirate is characterized by high-level IT knowledge, act as ’distribution hub’ by passing on content to family and friends and actively gives advice to others on how to obtain content illegally.

According to Myring, super-pirates "are nearly always men who think of themselves as internet Libertarians preventing the internet being controlled by government. Or they love the challenge of getting hold of software”

The main barrier to illegal downloading and file sharing was for most web users a lack of IT knowledge and a fear of viruses, says the review.

Anyone who knows where the actual research is available online, please post  a link in the comments.

Read more on the piracy debate at the Media Research Group conference here. Read more about Myring's vision on and classification of piracy in his article "The piracy arms race".

Source: NMA.co.uk, Mediatel/Newsline