A survey released by the Canadian Alliance Against Software Theft (CAAST) and conducted by independent researcher Uthink measured the attitudes and behaviours of 3,000 college and university students across Canada, including 500 students who identified computer science as their major. The study reveals that Canadian students have double standards when it comes to protecting intellectual property rights. 96% students agree that stealing software from a store is serious or very serious.
47% students pirate software by downloading it online (from underground warez sites)
53% students swap computer disks among friends (software installers with serial numbers or keygens)
40% consider using pirated software to be a serious issue.
72% agree that using pirated software is unethical
16% consider software piracy an illegal activity that warrants punishment.
78% say they have received information about intellectual property rights or copyright laws from the media
63% say they have also obtained this information from a college or university course.
But when asked their views about someone plagiarizing their own work, 87% of Canadian students consider this to be serious or very serious..
Students who use school networks to pirate software may also be compromising their school’s computer security and safety, and should be aware that their school may be held liable for the actions of its students. This is also applicable to corporates and organizations where employees may indulge in software piracy thereby putting the senior management at legal risks. Read the issues associated with downloading warez, cracks and keygens from underground warez sites.
Results for a sample of this size are considered accurate to within +/- 3.1%, with a 95% confidence level. [via | via | via]
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