Three million Swedes download illegally
One third of the Swedish population share files illegally – but scientists said the number might be even higher.
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More Swedes download illegally than previously estimated, new figures from Ifpi, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, reveled.
Some three million Swedes – or one third of the entire population – download and share files illegally. Still, some scientists said the number might be even higher.
“I have about 250 students per year of whom hardly any have not fileshared,” Kristoffer Schollin, who holds a doctorate in intellectual property law, told news wire TT. “It’s at 100 percent.”
Sweden ranks third in the world in average Internet connection speed at at 12.8 mbps, compared to the US with 5.1 mbps.
Still, industry officials have noted a sharp drop since a government crackdown earlier this year, Ifpi claimed.
"Six out of 10 (users of file sharing sites) have stopped completely, or at least significantly lowered their use of illegal file sharing after the new legislation," Ludvig Werner, chairman of IFPI Sweden, told AFP.
A new Swedish law in effect since April 1 gives copyright holders the right to force Internet service providers to reveal details of users sharing files, opening the way for legal action that could see downloaders pay damages and fines.
The Swedish section of IFPI, an association that represents the recording industry worldwide, in June studied the music consumption habits of 1,006 Swedes aged 15 to 74.
Contrary to previous surveys that contacted respondents by fixed lines -- which would exclude many young people who are frequent Internet users -- the file sharing study contacted Swedes over the Internet.
The survey indicated a sharp decrease in downloading since the new law came into effect, but showed that about 2.8 million Swedes aged 15 to 74 still shared files online.
"I think it's high (the figure), but I'm not surprised," Werner said.
Werner stressed the law had had an impact, but legislation alone was not enough to curb illegal file sharing.
"We also need to prove that markets can produce good legal alternatives for the consumers," he said.
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Last Updated (Monday, 12 October 2009 21:16)
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