IP Outreach Research > IP Crime
Reference
| Title: | The Consumption of Counterfeit Goods: 'Here Be Pirates'? |
| Author: | Jason Rutter and Jo Bryce [University of Central Lancashire] |
| Source: | Sociology 42, no. 6: 1146-1164 |
| Year: | 2008 |
Details
| Subject/Type: | Counterfeiting, Piracy |
| Focus: | Apparel and Shoes, Brands (non-deceptive counterfeits), Fashion Accessories, Film, Music, Software, Toys, Video Games |
| Country/Territory: | United Kingdom |
| Objective: | To look at the frequency, location and motivations for the purchase of counterfeit leisure items for consumers in the United Kingdom. |
| Sample: | 2.370 consumers |
| Methodology: | Postal and web-based questionnaires |
Main Findings
Purchase and consumption of counterfeit goods are commonplace among UK consumers: one in three respondents admitted to having knowingly purchased counterfeit goods at some time in the past, while 63.1% reported never having knowingly purchased counterfeits. 7.3% of non-purchases of counterfeit goods would consider doing so in the future. Males and 21-30/31-40 year olds were most likely to buy counterfeit goods. Cost was the most frequently given motivation for the purchase of counterfeits goods across all product categories.
Commonly purchased counterfeit goods over the last 12 months were music (purchased by 56.8% of counterfeits buyers), DVDs (55%), fashion items (53.4%), computer games (27.5%), business software (19.9%) and toys (8.5%).
Preferred acquisition locations for counterfeit goods vary: counterfeit DVDs are most often obtained on holiday abroad (29%), in local pubs/social clubs (26%), at local markets (12%) and on the Internet (12%). Pirated music is most often acquired via local pubs/social clubs (26%), followed by holidays abroad (21%), local markets (14%), car boot sales and shops (11% each). Local pubs/social clubs are the main distribution channel for pirated computer games (40%), followed by local markets (17%), holidays abroad (12%) and car boot sales (10%).
Pirated business software is most often purchased in school/college/university environments (28%), local pubs/social clubs (21%) and on holiday abroad (14%). 54% of counterfeit fashion consumers buy their items on holiday abroad, 14% from street vendors and 11% at local markets. Car boot sales are the main distribution channel for fake toys (53%), followed by holidays abroad (16%).
[Date Added: Mar 31, 2009 ]