Online piracy in the UK

Ofcom, the UK's communications regulator, has released its latest report on online copyright infringement in the UK.  The report, which covers March - May 2013, reveals how the majority of copyright infringement is carried out by a small number of people.The report shows that 2% of copyright infringers were responsible for 74% of all online piracy.  The remainder of the infringements were carried out by "a long tail of casual, low level or infrequent" infringers.Six types of online content are covered in the report:

• Books
• Computer software
• Films
• Music
• TV programmes
• Video games

• An estimated 1% of UK internet users accessed at least one e-book illegally during the period
• 31% of those using e-books paid nothing
• 49% paid for all their e-books
• Interestingly, those who had downloaded at least one e-book illegally spent more overall on e-books than those who paid for all their e-books
• Those who downloaded a mix of paid for  and free e-books consumed more than any other group

• An estimated 3% of UK internet users accessed or downloaded at least one software product illegally during the period - the equivalent of 21% of all those who consumed software online
• 74% of those who used software illegally were male
• 69% of those who used software illegally were under 34
• As with books, those who downloaded some e-books illegally, those who used pirated software spent more on average than those who did not

• An estimated 6% of internet users downloaded at least one TV programme illegally during the period (18% of those who consumed TV programmes online)
• 60% of those who downloaded TV programmes illegally were male
• 67% were aged between 16-34