Digital piracy intention: a comparison of theoretical models

• Published in: Behaviour & information technology Vol. 31; no. 6; pp. 565 - 576
• Main Author: Yoon, Cheolho
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Colchester Taylor & Francis 01.06.2012; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Colleges & universities; Decision making models; Decision theory; Determinants; Digital; Digital Millennium Copyright Act 1998-US; digital piracy; Electronic media; ethical judgment; Ethics; Exact sciences and technology; Hunt-Vitell model; Information and communication sciences; Information science. Documentation; Library and information science. General aspects; Mathematical analysis; Mathematical models; model parsimony; Piracy; Sciences and techniques of general use; Students; theory of planned behaviour (TPB); Use and user studies. Information needs; South Korea; Theoretical model; Computer security; Comparative study; Piracy
• ISSN: 0144-929X; 1362-3001
• DOI: 10.1080/0144929X.2011.602424

Digital piracy intention research has yielded different sets of piracy intention determinants based on various theoretical models. In this study, we reviewed the digital piracy literature and empirically compared two theoretical models, which are the models most often used: the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) and the Hunt-Vitell ethical decision model. Data were obtained from university students in South Korea, and structural equation modelling (SEM) was employed to examine and compare the two competing theoretical models in terms of explanatory power, overall model fit and paths' significance. The findings of this study revealed that the TPB is a more appropriate model for predicting digital piracy than the Hunt-Vitell ethical decision model.