Protesters In Guy Fawkes Masks
Protesters wearing Guy Fawkes masks, made popular by the graphic novel "V for Vendetta", take part in a demonstration against ACTA (Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement) in Vienna, February 25, 2012. Reuters/Lisi Niesner

In a recent survey conducted by the Government of Australia, it is found that majority of country’s digital users subscribe to illegal means for downloading movies, TV shows, music and video games. The research, which has been running in the U.K. since 2012, was conducted to measure online copyright infringement in Australia across various content types and to evaluate why it was widespread among the youth.

According to the survey, it is believed that illegal downloads would have gone down the line, had the content been less costlier and available at the same time as it is released elsewhere. Although it was found out that free and quick access drove users to illegal downloads the most even if the legal content was cheaper.

Meanwhile in the U.K., the research funded by the U.K. Intellectual Property Office and undertaken by Kantar Media, reported that a fifth of all the digital users downloaded at least one file illegally, whereas for Australia it was six in ten people who consumed data illegally on a regular basis.

Both British and Australian Governments have conducted the surveys over a period of three months across different content types to analyse the ratio of online copyright infringement. The data collected showed that 43 percent of the Australian digital users opt for illegal means to download.

Among the most illegally downloaded materials, the survey of 2630 Australians found that movies (48 percent) topped the list, closely followed by music (37 percent), TV programs (33 percent) and video games (18 percent). It was reported that they downloaded at least one movie over the span of three months of the survey.

According to Gazette Review, the Department of Communications argued that the only possible way to prevent users from illegally downloading was allowing them to access the online materials easily with affordable rates. However, the chief executive officer of Communications Alliance, John Stanton, said that he was surprised with the results because almost three quarters of the digital users who download illegally could easily access the materials legally.

Back in April this year, Internet service providers handed over the details of the customers who illegally downloaded US movie The Dallas Buyers Club on one of the Australian court’s order. Nonetheless, it has been reported that Australians are among the world's most regular illegal consumers of digital content, reported BBC.

Contact the writer on priya.shayani@gmail.com