Hadopi: Half of French download illegally
January 25, 2011
Nearly half of people in France download film and music illegally, according to a study by the anti-internet piracy body, Hadopi. The study found that only one third of users were prepared to change and migrate to legal sites but piracy was not slowing down and methods were diversifying, the report found.
It believes piracy will grow at a CAGR of around 10 per cent during 2010-2013. Of the 2,600 people surveyed, 13 per cent said illegal downloading was a regular thing for them, 36 per cent said it was occasional or exceptional.
Internet piracy is more prevalent among the young: 70 per cent of 15- to 24 year-olds admit doing it, while 55 per cent of 25- to 39-year-olds and 32 per cent of 40-year-olds and over do the same. A quarter of French under 24 do not buy anything online, but could not afford to go shops to buy music even if illegal downloading was made impossible.
The study found that those who downloaded the most material illegally also spent the most online on films and video. Among the reasons given are the length of time it takes American series to reach France, the ability to watch foreign films that would not normally be available in France and the lack of availability on legal networks.
While 25 per cent said they had been downloading for longer than five years, 29 per cent admitted they had started in the past six months – after Hadopi became active.