| Copyright infringement is not a recent phenomenon; however, the prevalence of the Internet and piracy software has made infringement easier to commit and harder to prosecute. Research identifies the offenders to be in their late-teens and early 20s, an age group that has been christened Generation Y or Millennials. This study confirmed that 19- to 25-year-old college students pirate music at an alarming rate; however, their responses indicate that they are pirating less than previously suggested. This study also determined through survey and focus group research that a disparity exists between legal and cultural mores. According to Posner's theory means-end rationality, if current deterrents fail to prevent future infringements, the justice system must adapt modifications to penalties or jurisprudence is not fulfilling its purpose. |
