The rise of streaming services such as Spotify and Netflix could be kerbing online piracy, according to a new study.
Research commissioned by the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) has shown that over half (52 percent) of internet users consuming content online now use streaming services.
This rise of streaming has coincided with a small but significant drop in online copyright infringement, the study found.
For the first time, those consuming content from exclusively legal sources has risen to 44 percent, a three percent increase since the end of 2015.
Respondents who stream cited convenience and cost as two of the main reasons for doing so. Spotify, the music streaming giant, has seen a three percent rise in new UK users in just 12 months.
Despite this positive trend, online infringement continues to have a major impact on the creative industries, with music and film hit hardest, the report states.
Kantar Media, which undertook the research for the IPO, estimates that over 78 million music tracks were accessed illegally online in the past three months.
One in 20 internet users are exclusively consuming illegal content.
Baroness Neville-Rolfe, minister for intellectual property, said: ‘Online copyright infringement has been a running sore for the UK’s creative industries for far too long. I am extremely pleased to see that there has been a decline in infringement and that consumers appear to be turning towards legitimate streaming en masse.
‘There is, however, more to do. This government is committed to fighting against IP theft in all its forms and supporting the hard work of our creative industries. I am pleased that we are joining forces internationally to improve our knowledge of online infringement.’
Eddy Leviten, director general of the Alliance for Intellectual Property, said: ‘It is encouraging to see that more UK consumers are choosing legitimate content sources, thereby supporting creators and creative businesses.
‘However, illegal content is still finding an outlet in UK homes and that’s why we need better collaboration to drive down availability and access to pirate websites. Government has a crucial role to play if the UK’s creative industries are to continue to grow.’
Read the full Online Copyright Infringement Tracker report.
Research commissioned by the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) has shown that over half (52 percent) of internet users consuming content online now use streaming services.
This rise of streaming has coincided with a small but significant drop in online copyright infringement, the study found.
For the first time, those consuming content from exclusively legal sources has risen to 44 percent, a three percent increase since the end of 2015.
Respondents who stream cited convenience and cost as two of the main reasons for doing so. Spotify, the music streaming giant, has seen a three percent rise in new UK users in just 12 months.
Despite this positive trend, online infringement continues to have a major impact on the creative industries, with music and film hit hardest, the report states.
Kantar Media, which undertook the research for the IPO, estimates that over 78 million music tracks were accessed illegally online in the past three months.
One in 20 internet users are exclusively consuming illegal content.
Baroness Neville-Rolfe, minister for intellectual property, said: ‘Online copyright infringement has been a running sore for the UK’s creative industries for far too long. I am extremely pleased to see that there has been a decline in infringement and that consumers appear to be turning towards legitimate streaming en masse.
‘There is, however, more to do. This government is committed to fighting against IP theft in all its forms and supporting the hard work of our creative industries. I am pleased that we are joining forces internationally to improve our knowledge of online infringement.’
Eddy Leviten, director general of the Alliance for Intellectual Property, said: ‘It is encouraging to see that more UK consumers are choosing legitimate content sources, thereby supporting creators and creative businesses.
‘However, illegal content is still finding an outlet in UK homes and that’s why we need better collaboration to drive down availability and access to pirate websites. Government has a crucial role to play if the UK’s creative industries are to continue to grow.’
Read the full Online Copyright Infringement Tracker report.
