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Support for file sharing remains high in Sweden

Published: 19 May 12 09:49 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/40922/20120519/

File sharing is still going strong in Sweden. Levels have barely been affected by new, harsh laws, and most Swedes have no problem with file sharing, a new study from Lund University shows.

Following 2009’s introduction of anti-file sharing IPRED law (named after the EU intellectual property rights directive), file sharing rates dipped momentarily, but soon buoyed up again.

And the law has failed to affect public opinion, according to the study. Neither active file sharers nor those around them think they’re doing anything wrong.

“This law has no support in the public’s sense of justice,” said Måns Svensson of Lund University’s Internet Institute, who conducted the study together with Stefan Larsson.

According to Svensson and Larsson, such a rift between what the law says and what people think of it is unique.

“We’ve never ever seen a law with such weak support from social norms. There’s a flagrant rift. This is unique,” Svensson said in a statement.

"The fact that file sharing diminished somewhat simply shows that the law works as a deterrent, as people are scared of being punished,” he went on.

Usually, legislation has a normative function, meaning that social values are affected by the law’s introduction.

This effect has yet to kick in for file sharing, the study shows.

A wide majority of the Swedish youth file share. Some 61 percent of Swedes between 15 and 25 file share, according to a survey conducted in January 2012.

TT/Clara Guibourg (news@thelocal.se)

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12:42 May 19, 2012 by Abe L
That's what happens when lobbyists decide lawmaking rather then public opinion.

The impact of filesharing has been greatly exaggerated for years by the industry while it has been normal and socially acceptable by the public.

It's an absolute disgrace the Swedish government introduced law making criminalizing something that such a large part of the public considers completely acceptable.
13:36 May 19, 2012 by scubadoc
I agree strongly
14:06 May 19, 2012 by philster61
Regardless don't expect the Swedish government to actually listen to what Swedes actually say..
15:30 May 19, 2012 by riose
You cannot ban what you cannot control.
12:24 May 20, 2012 by rolfkrohna
Swedish government do NOT listen any longer to people, Sweden has become what the Third Reich and Soviet union was, free elections and then shut up. The USA says "JUMP", the Swedish government says "how high". The copyright Mafia wish for a totalitarian control of the individual, and are trying like dictators use three centuries old laws and systems to fish money out of everyone's pockets while technology has changed the world to the better. Why in the world should that Mafia be allowed to buy a song cheap, then copy and sell it exclusively for 70 years (or so), why don't they have to work like the rest of us. In China artist want their songs freely copied, then they get more paid in concerts. Get rid of the copyright laws and the copyright Mafia.
07:20 May 21, 2012 by SecondGen
Since everything is free in Sweden then file sharing should be as well, right?

But if people are expected to pay for their groceries or furniture, then one would think that people would pay for their music, videos and software too.

Surely you can't claim its fair to pay Mr. IKEA for his furniture but not pay ABBA for their music?

As far as middlemen, I agree they are probably making a lot of money, but it would probably be hard for ABBA to print disks and send them to each fan on demand, someone prints a bunch and warehouses them.

Don't expect people from one industry to give up their ability to be paid for their product if you aren't willing to forgo being paid for whatever you do as well.
22:06 May 21, 2012 by Reason abd Realism
Agree with SecondGen.

The rest of you are a bunch of morally bankrupt adolescents.
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