Determinants of unlawful file sharing: a scoping review

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 10; no. 6; p. e0127921
• Main Authors: Watson, Steven James, Zizzo, Daniel John, Fleming, Piers
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 01.06.2015; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Behavior; Confidentiality; Consumers; Decision making; Deviance; Disclosure; Electronic games; File sharing; Grey literature; Information Dissemination - methods; Information Storage and Retrieval - methods; Internet; Keywords; Music; Piracy; Pornography & obscenity; United Kingdom > UK; United States > US
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0127921

We employ a scoping review methodology to consider and assess the existing evidence on the determinants of unlawful file sharing (UFS) transparently and systematically. Based on the evidence, we build a simple conceptual framework to model the psychological decision to engage in UFS, purchase legally or do nothing. We identify social, moral, experiential, technical, legal and financial utility sources of the decision to purchase or to file share. They interact in complex ways. We consider the strength of evidence within these areas and note patterns of results. There is good evidence for influences on UFS within each of the identified determinants, particularly for self-reported measures, with more behavioral research needed. There are also indications that the reasons for UFS differ across media; more studies exploring media other than music are required.