File-swappers happy to ignore legal threats

File-swappers are ignoring the recording industry's attempts to enforce copyright online, according to a survey.

More than two-thirds of Americans who swap songs online don't care whether the music is copyrighted, according to a study, despite the record industry's anti-piracy crackdown.

The Pew Internet and American Life Project study, released on Thursday, found that 67 per cent of US internet file-swappers are indifferent to copyright concerns, a jump from 61 per cent of respondents in a survey taken in the summer of 2000. The survey, of 2,515 adults in the US, took place from March until May - just a few months before the recording industry began gathering evidence to sue individual file-swappers.

Researchers wrote in the report: "The struggle to enforce copyright laws in the digital age continues to be an uphill battle for content owners".

In an effort to regain control of the distribution of copyrighted music, the Recording Industry Association of America in June warned that it would send subpoenas to internet service providers, asking them to identify alleged song-swappers so it could sue them. So far, the industry group has issued hundreds of subpoenas, ensnaring people from all walks of life.

The Pew study also looked at demographics, finding that income and ethnicity often correlated to file-swapping. According to the report, people from lower income households are more likely to download files online. About 38 per cent of American internet users with an annual household income below $30,000 (£18,650) downloaded files, compared with 26 per cent of those with an income above $75,000.

The study found that wired members of certain ethnic groups were more likely to download music.

Researchers wrote: "African-Americans and Hispanics are also more devoted downloaders than their white counterparts." They also found that 37 per cent of online African-Americans and 35 per cent of online Hispanics said they had downloaded music, compared with 28 per cent of whites.

Students are very likely to download, the survey found, with about 56 per cent saying they've downloaded songs. Those who've obtained a college degree were reported as being the most concerned about copyright laws.

Lisa M. Bowman writes for CNET News.com