P2p Music-Sharing Networks: Why Legal Fight Against Copiers May Be Inefficient?

Abstract

The paper investigates empirically the behavior of copiers over P2P networks based on an ordered Logit model of intensity using a unique dataset collected from more than 2,500 French households. Copying behavior obviously is negatively correlated with the willingness to pay for an original when a copy is available. But individuals take also their decision according to their social neighboring and their learning about copying. Besides, they are motivated by the search for diversified contents whereas they are very concerned for the interests of artists. We consider then the efficiency of anti-copying policies on the copying of music and movies.

Keywords: Illegal file sharing, social interactions, peer-to-peer (P2P), copyright enforcement, discrete choice

JEL Classification: D12, K42, Z1