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This book builds an empirical basis towards creating broader prevention and intervention programs in curbing digital piracy. It addresses the psychosocial, cultural and criminological factors associated with digital piracy to construct more efficient problem-solving mechanisms. Digital piracy including online piracy involves illegal copying of copyrighted materials. This practice costs the software industry, entertainment industry, and governments billions of dollars every year. Reports of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and Business Software Alliance (BSA) view piracy largely in the light of economic factors; the assumption being that only those who cannot afford legitimate copies of software, music, and movies indulge in it. Drawing on research and theories from various disciplines like psychology, sociology, criminology, and law, the authors have designed an empirical study to understand the contribution of psychological, cultural and criminological factors to digital piracy. The chapters include data from India and China, which continue to be on the Special 301 report priority watch list of the WIPO, and Serbia, which has been on the watch list 4 times. They examine the role of self-control, self-efficacy, perceived punishment severity, awareness about digital piracy, peer influence, neutralization techniques, novelty seeking, pro-industry factors and other socio-demographic factors in predicting digital piracy.

This book addresses a large readership, comprising academics and researchers in psychology, criminology and criminal justice, law and intellectual property rights, social sciences, and IT, as well as policymakers, to better understand and deal with the phenomenon of digital piracy.

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Chapter 1: Digital Piracy: A Multidimensional Perspective.- Chapter 2: Awareness To Reduce Digital Piracy.- Chapter 3: Ethics, Morality & Norms: Do They Inhibit Digital Piracy?.- Chapter 4: Perceived Punishment and Digital Piracy: Certainty, Celerity and Severity of Digital Piracy.- Chapter 5: Neutralization Techniques: Means to Diffuse Responsibility.- Chapter 6: Peer Group Association Promotes Digital Piracy.- Chapter 7: Novelty Seeking: Exploring the Role of Variety Seeking Behavior in Digital Piracy.- Chapter 8: Role of Self-Control in Digital Piracy.- Chapter 9: Role of Self-Efficacy and Ability Towards the Act of Digital Piracy.- Chapter 10: Pro-industry Outlook: Consumers´ Attitudes and Behaviors Towards Digital Piracy.

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