Some 47% of users in the UK cannot confidently identify whether the online content they download, stream or share is legal or not. However, one in six people online believed they downloaded or accessed content illegally over a three-month period this year, according to a research carried out by Kantar Media for the telecom regulator Ofcom and financed by the UK Intellectual Property Office.

These findings come from the first wave of a large-scale consumer study - OCI Tracker Benchmark Study - into the extent of online copyright infringement among internet users aged 12 and above. This ongoing research will identify trends over time, examining infringement of copyright on music, films, TV programmes, software, books and video games.

Key findings

General copyright infringement

- One in six (16%) UK internet users aged 12+ were estimated to have downloaded or streamed/accessed at least one item of online content illegally over the 3 month period May-July 2012. A quarter of these (4%) only consumed illegal content.
- Levels of infringement varied significantly by content type; our survey indicated that 8% of internet users aged 12+ consumed some music illegally over the three month period, while 6% did so for films. For video games and computer software the figure was just 2%.
- When looking only at those internet users who had consumed any content online over the three month period, 31% of those consuming any film content and 23% of those consuming any music content had done so illegally. Books had the lowest incidence of illegal consumption among those who had consumed any e-books online, at 11%.
- Online copyright infringers across all the content types were more likely to be male (58%), 16-34 (64%) and ABC1 (62%).
- Overall volumes of illegal content consumed online varied by category. Volumes were highest for computer software (47% of all computer software products consumed online were estimated to be illegally obtained), followed by films (35%) and music (26%), whereas it was lowest for books (12%).
- The survey data shows that for music, film and TV programmes, those who consumed a mixture of legal and illegal content claimed to spend more on that type of content over the 3-month period than those who consumed 100% legally or 100% illegally.
- When asking infringers why they download or stream/access content illegally, the most common reasons cited for doing so were because it is free (54%), convenient (48%) and quick (44%). Close to a quarter (26%) of infringers also said they do it because it means they can try before they buy.
- Factors that infringers said would encourage them to stop infringing included the availability of cheaper legal services (39%), if everything they wanted was available legally (32%) and if it was clearer what is legal and what isn't (26%).
- Regarding the threat of a letter from their ISP, 22% indicated that a letter suspending their internet access would put them off, falling to 16% for a letter informing them their account had been used to infringe, and 14% for the restricting of internet speed.
- Forty-four per cent of all internet users aged 12+ claimed to be either "not particularly confident" or "not at all" confident in terms of what is legal and what isn't online. Confidence was lower amongst females (51%) and C2DEs (48%). Although the proportion increased with age, 12-15 year olds (42%) claimed confidence was lower than all other age groups up to the age of 44.
- The most commonly cited indicator of the legality of a website was a reputable/well- known brand.

Music copyright infringement

- Eight per cent of UK internet users aged 12+ were estimated to have downloaded or streamed at least one music track illegally over the period May-July 2012. Of those who had downloaded or streamed any music over the period, just under one in four (23%) had done so illegally.
- Music online copyright infringers were responsible for illegally downloading or streaming over a quarter (26%) of all digital music consumed on the internet.
- The vast majority of those who consumed any music illegally online were male (60%) under 34 (79%), and ABC1 (70%).
- Music infringers who accessed both legal and illegal content online claimed to spend the most on the category as a whole, spending on average £77.24 over the 3-month period. The 5% of internet users aged 12+ who only accessed illegal content, spent much less (£13.80).

Films copyright infringement

- Six per cent of UK internet users aged 12+ were estimated to have downloaded or streamed at least one film illegally over the period May-July 2012. Of those who had downloaded or streamed any content over the period, close to a third (31%) had done so illegally.
- Film online copyright infringers were responsible for illegally downloading or streaming 35% of all digital film consumed on the internet.
- The vast majority of those who consumed any films illegally online were male (64%) under 34 (79%), and ABC1 (59%).
- Film infringers who accessed both legal and illegal content online claimed to spend the most on the category as a whole, spending on average £56.11 over the 3-month period. The 2% of internet users aged 12+ who only accessed illegal film content, spent much less (£28.25).

TV Programmes copyright infringement

- Six per cent of UK internet users aged 12+ were estimated to have downloaded or streamed at least one TV programme illegally over the period May-July 2012. Of those who had downloaded or streamed any content over the period, close to a fifth (19%) had done so illegally.
- TV programme online copyright infringers were responsible for illegally downloading or streaming close to a fifth (19%) of all TV programmes consumed on the internet.
- The vast majority of those who consumed any TV programmes illegally online were 16-34 (64%) and ABC1 (66%).
- TV programme infringers who accessed both legal and illegal content online claimed to spend the most on paid for content (including physical rentals and purchases), spending on average £25.69 over the 3-month period. The 4% of internet users aged 12+ who only consumed illegal online content, spent much less (£3.51).

Video Games copyright infringement

- Two per cent of UK internet users aged 12+ were estimated to have downloaded or accessed at least one video game illegally over the period May-July 2012. Of those who had downloaded or accessed any video games online over the period, close to a fifth (18%) had done so illegally.
- Video game online copyright infringers were responsible for illegally downloading or accessing 18% of all digital video games consumed on the internet.
- The vast majority of those who consumed any video games illegally were male (73%) and under 34 (85%).
- Video game infringers who consumed all their content legally spent more (£34.51) on average on content (physical and digital) than those who accessed any software illegally (£25).

Computer Software copyright infringement

- Two per cent of UK internet users aged 12+ were estimated to have downloaded or accessed at least one computer software product illegally over the period May-July 2012. Of those who had downloaded or streamed any content over the period, 17% had done so illegally.
- Computer software online copyright infringers were responsible for illegally downloading or streaming close to a half (47%) of all computer software consumed on the internet.
- The vast majority of those who consumed any computer software products illegally online were male (70%), 16-34 (65%) and ABC1 (58%).
- Computer software infringers who accessed all their online content legally spent more (£26.27) on average on software products (including physical discs) than those who consumed any illegally (£14.61).

Books copyright infringement

- One per cent of UK internet users aged 12+ were estimated to have downloaded or accessed at least one e-book illegally over the period May-July 2012. Of those who had downloaded or accessed any e-books over the period, close to a tenth (11%) had done so illegally.
- Book online copyright infringers were responsible for illegally downloading or accessing 12% of all e-books consumed on the internet.

In June, Ofcom published a draft Code that would require large fixed internet service providers (ISPs) to inform customers of allegations that their internet connection has been used to infringe copyright, and to explain where they can find licensed content on the internet.

The research follows a recommendation in the Hargreaves Review of Intellectual Property and Growth that Ofcom should start gathering independent data and establishing trends in the area of online copyright before its formal reporting duties begin, under the Digital Economy Act 2010, when the Code comes into force.

The research included both children (12-15 year olds) and adults who use the internet less frequently to get a nationally representative sample of UK individuals aged 12+. A large sample of 4400 individuals were interviewed, and a hybrid online and face-to-face survey methodology was used. The full report can be downloaded here.

Story filed 20.11.12