Consumers will download illegally 'as long as it is easy'

As long as it is easy to do so‚ consumers will continue to download music illegally‚ it has been claimed.

The majority of consumers understand that music piracy is wrong and believe they should pay for copyrighted content.

However, as long as it remains easy to do so, they will carry on downloading it illegally for free over the internet.

This is the view of Sean Adams, founder and editor of online music magazine Drowned in Sound, who likened music tracks to pick 'n' mix sweets.

Indeed, he said that while music, like pick 'n' mix, is so easy to steal, consumers will continue to do so, even though they know they are breaking the law.

His comments follow the publication of the government's Digital Britain report, which set out measures to tackle illegal downloading.

The document stated that digital distribution is radically changing the way in which people consume music and video content.

It also said that evidence shows most people would prefer to be legal buyers and users of content if given a reasonable choice.

The report therefore proposed the provision of a legal market framework for the sharing of music and video to offer consumers inexpensive and convenient access.

Commenting on the intellectual property issue, Mr Adams explained that "the value of anything is the cheapest place you can get it".

He said peer-to-peer downloads offer free access as well as the ability to download entire discographies and rare music tracks.

And he pointed out that consumers can obtain this content in much less time than it would take to sign up to a legal download site, input credit card details, search for the necessary tracks and download them.

According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, some 95 per cent of music downloads are unauthorised, despite the substantial growth of legal platforms.