Research shows piracy is of increasing concern

Digital Play‚ a new research report released today, shows casual piracy is of increasing concern for the entertainment industry, with consistency of approach to content protection becoming a strategic priority.
Mass market penetration of digital recording devices and broadband/file-sharing networks are prompting many entertainment brands to enrich their content protection strategies and influence bottom line performance.
The independent research, commissioned by digital content specialist Macrovision, surveyed executives from 100 businesses among the Film, Music and Computer Games industries across the UK, France and Germany. The survey investigates the attitudes and strategies of Europe‚s games, music and film brands as they combat the billion Euro threats of CD/DVD Rip & Burn and illegal peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing.
Overall findings from the research point to a clear consensus that improved best practice and compliance can influence the trend of content abuse that brand owners are wrestling with today. The research highlights the role of content protection technologies in thwarting casual piracy, pointing to opportunities presented by an effective model for distributing digital media in a portable, flexible and controlled manner.
The report further suggests a significant enthusiasm from the entertainment sector for a multi-layered approach to tackling digital piracy, one that maintains a balance between delivering robust protection policies today and influencing consumer perceptions in the longer term.
“In tackling the complexity of casual piracy, the desire to change public perception must be supported by best practice strategies. There is significant momentum in the entertainment industry to get this formula right and define a new era of content protection,” said Fred Amoroso, Macrovision‚s CEO. “Across Europe, new recording technologies and P2P networks have changed the dynamics of casual copying and brands are suiting up‚ to address this challenge. It is a commercial, technological and cultural issue in equal measure, and a consistent and balanced response is required to ensure the future success of industry performance and consumer satisfaction.”
(CD/SP)