Factors influencing software piracy

It is generally believed that software piracy harms both the software firms(through lower profits) and the buying customers (through higher prices)resulting in increasing efforts to counter software piracy by both softwarepublishers and government. This study attempts to develop a profile of thosewho illegally copy software and determine the motivational factors underlyingsoftware piracy in South Africa in order to design effective measures tocounteract software piracy.The study found that there are factors such as occupation, age, gender andcomputer expertise that can be used to profile a software pirate. In particularyoung male business students with expertise in computer usage were found topirate software more frequently. There is limited support for levels of educationor work experience influencing software piracy.The cost of the software followed by the ease of copying and the purpose of usewere found to be strong motivating factors influencing software piracyFurthermore, the study shows that social acceptance and belief concerning thelack of consequences for software piracy have significant effects on softwarepiracy intentions.Based on the above findings, anti-piracy campaigns and government efforts toeradicate software piracy should take into account the demographics ofsoftware pirates and ensure that the campaign messaging addresses the ethicalwrongness of piracy together with stricter enforcements. In addition, softwarevendors should look at new and innovative ways of bundling additional servicesto software to allow consumers to feel the value add of purchasing software asopposed to pirating.