Survey Says: Legal Downloading Up

No matter what people say about surveys being statistically accurate, I have a difficult time taking them seriously – particularly when it comes to whether people follow the law. Take, for example, the latest Pew Internet & American Life Project survey on music downloading. It suggests current downloaders are now more likely to use online music services such as iTunes, and the percentage of people who have tried paid services rose to 43% from 24% in 2004.
So what do make of that? My take is the numbers are skewed by the fact in a survey more people are likely to insist they follow the law than if you asked them at a party. In theory, we're all law-abiding citizens and “stealing” music is regarded as bad even though the laws are kind of murky. While I think it's true more people have tried paid services, some or much of it has to be experimentation. Apple has made the iPod and iTunes so cool, you have to think many people were curious to check it out. For the most part, I think music downloading is very much alive. Some people may have have simplied lied about what they do, reverted to more creative tricks such as borrowing a friend's iPod and copying the music they like, or have gone underground. In Canada, downloading is “legal” and will remain so despite proposed amendments to copyright laws.