RT Article
T1 Illegal Downloading, Ethical Concern, and Illegal Behavior
JF Journal of business ethics
VO 108
IS 2
SP 215
OP 227
A1 Robertson, Kirsten
A1 McNeill, Lisa
A1 Green, James
A1 Roberts, Claire
LA English
PB Springer Science + Business Media B. V
YR 2012
UL https://ixtheo.de/Record/1785645080
AB Illegally downloading music through peer-to-peer networks has persisted in spite of legal action to deter the behavior. This study examines the individual characteristics of downloaders which could explain why they are not dissuaded by messages that downloading is illegal. We compared downloaders to non-downloaders and examined whether downloaders were characterized by less ethical concern, engagement in illegal behavior, and a propensity toward stealing a CD from a music store under varying levels of risk. We also examined whether downloading or individual characteristics of downloaders were similar for men and women. Findings revealed downloading was prevalent (74.5% of the student sample downloaded), men and women were equally likely to download and the factors characterizing downloading were similar for men and women. The comparison between downloaders and non-downloaders revealed downloaders were less concerned with the law, demonstrated by less ethical concern and engagement in other illegal behaviors. Downloaders were also more likely to indicate that they would steal a CD when there was no risk of being caught. Given these results, messages regarding illegality are unlikely to perturb downloaders and alternative recommendations are offered for targeting illegal downloading.
K1 Students’ illegal downloading
K1 Stealing a CD and illegal downloading
K1 music piracy
K1 Risky behavior and illegal downloading
DO 10.1007/s10551-011-1079-3