Factors influencing software piracy

Date
2011-05-13
Authors
Mahomed, Safeya
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Abstract
It is generally believed that software piracy harms both the software firms (through lower profits) and the buying customers (through higher prices) resulting in increasing efforts to counter software piracy by both software publishers and government. This study attempts to develop a profile of those who illegally copy software and determine the motivational factors underlying software piracy in South Africa in order to design effective measures to counteract software piracy. The study found that there are factors such as occupation, age, gender and computer expertise that can be used to profile a software pirate. In particular young male business students with expertise in computer usage were found to pirate software more frequently. There is limited support for levels of education or work experience influencing software piracy. The cost of the software followed by the ease of copying and the purpose of use were found to be strong motivating factors influencing software piracy Furthermore, the study shows that social acceptance and belief concerning the lack of consequences for software piracy have significant effects on software piracy intentions. Based on the above findings, anti-piracy campaigns and government efforts to eradicate software piracy should take into account the demographics of software pirates and ensure that the campaign messaging addresses the ethical wrongness of piracy together with stricter enforcements. In addition, software vendors should look at new and innovative ways of bundling additional services to software to allow consumers to feel the value add of purchasing software as opposed to pirating.
Description
MBA - WBS
Keywords
Software piracy, Information technology
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