NCJ Number
191992
Journal
Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice Volume: 17 Issue: 4 Dated: November 2001 Pages: 369-382
Date Published
2001
Length
14 pages
Annotation
An exploratory study examined whether software piracy in a university setting was correlated with the availability and inherent rapidity of a high-speed link to the Internet.
Abstract
Software piracy has become a significant problem for businesses and educational institutions, and the causes and roots of computer-related crime deserves increasing research attention as computer crime continues to proliferate in this information age. This research focused on correlative and contributory factors in software pirating, including the types of Internet access and the individual’s past experience with the unlawful duplication of computer CD-ROMs. Data came from a questionnaire survey that received responses from 433 students in 25 classes in a large midwestern university in May and June 2000. The study used an independent samples t test and a bivariate correlation matrix to evaluate the relationships between variables. Results supported the hypothesis that broadband connectivity increased the likelihood of online software piracy and that past experience with traditional pirating activity was significantly correlated to overall Internet piracy. Findings also suggested the desirability of proactive steps by universities to address the onset and perpetuation of unethical and illegal computing activity among students. Tables and 21 references (Author abstract modified)