Launching a Report on Unlawful File Sharing

Abstract

A launch event for a scoping review of a decade of file sharing research was held by the CREATe group on 11 April 2014. Panellists were invited from stakeholder groups including industry, civil rights and technological intermediaries. The review addressed five key determinants of unlawful file sharing which were repeatedly found in the 206 reviewed studies: legal and financial, technical, experiential, social and moral. It also covered issues of social welfare and the costs and benefits to producers and consumers. The unequal coverage of different media sectors and research types, and the insufficient actual causal behavioural data, were highlighted. A subsequent discussion covered technological change, harm and issues of production. There is need for more and better evidence to support policy.