[*StarDust*]

More aware of online piracy
By Chua Hian Hou

ALMOST all Singaporeans know that illegal downloads of the latest U2 album or Wolverine movie is wrong.

Most even slam such downloads as theft and know they can get into legal trouble over it, according to the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore's (Ipos) second biennial survey on Singaporeans' attitudes toward intellectual property.

But not as many actually walk their talk, or feel the social stigma over their online piracy, said Ipos' director-general, Ms Liew Woon Yin.
The agency expects an uptick in such activities in the current economic downturn, despite survey respondents saying they do not mind paying for legitimate media products.

'It is encouraging to see a high awareness level of the importance of IP rights protection, and that Singaporeans understand intellectual property rights infringement can result in legal consequences,' said Ms Liew.

'But we need to continue to promote greater awareness among Singaporeans of the negative impact of intellectual property rights infringement and foster a higher level of respect of intellectual property ... to encourage more Singaporeans to choose original products,' she said.

Ipos' survey, which polled more than 1,000 people aged 15 and above last year, did not ask if the respondents downloaded pirated materials from the Internet. This was because Forbes Research, which conducted the survey, believed that respondents would not answer honestly even if they did.

A separate Nielsen study has shown that one in four Singapore Net users download movies, and one in three download music from the Internet. File-sharing sites like Mininova, Rapidshare and MegaUpload are among Singapore?s favourite sites, according to web tracking service Alexa, and netizens openly discuss ways to download pirated materials on local forums.

Other local pro-file-sharing sites here go even further, offering advice on how to evade detection and destroy evidence to foil investigations.

The results though, are a slight improvement from Ipos' findings two years ago, the last time it polled Singaporeans on the issue. Then, slightly fewer people felt online piracy was theft. More people were also worried about the consequences of their actions.

While the 'changes in attitude has not affected behavioural changes', it was nonetheless an important first step since 'understanding results in action', said Ms Liew.

Source: http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking...ry_363490.html

[Emolisher]

Watching the latest movie or listening to the latest album are so convenient now, i doubt anyone will stop uploading or downloading it >.<

[Chatter-Ling]

Anyway this IP deparetment in Cantonment is probably highly funded by companies.
We didn;t earn peanuts like our ministers. So many peanuts. They of cos, can use peanuts to buy the real stuffs.

[princess-selina]

Though it's illegal , people still do it .

[jewlreya]

Simply because Singapore is just slower in importing the latest drama, anime, movies, etc. And local tv programs aren't very fantastic to keep Singaporean's attention for long.

[kristylam]

i know its illegal but i still do it sometimes...i only dl kpop songs and korean variety show!
i dl it as a sneak preview... and if i like the songs i will buy the album becoz i support my idols... =D
and you know sg dont air korean variety show even in scv!!!! so what can i do!
movies and dramas cant really blame us... even some music album~
we cant get it in sg then we have to source other ways.. and dling is the one of the way...
im forced to dl... =P

[skyangel]

as for me, i won't download anything from the internet unless necessary.
i just don't like the idea of downloading stuff from the internet...later kena virus

[kdwdybswy]

Originally Posted by skyangel

as for me, i won't download anything from the internet unless necessary.
i just don't like the idea of downloading stuff from the internet...later kena virus

LOL. It's true but there are ways or more trusted sites you can go to.

Well, without the internet it's harder for them to become popular anyway. I guess only die hard fans or only people who don't know how to use the search engine will spend their money buying.

[masterboix]

Originally Posted by skyangel

as for me, i won't download anything from the internet unless necessary.
i just don't like the idea of downloading stuff from the internet...later kena virus

now download thing from internet ar.. 10 file u get 1 or 2 have virus only..

[UnknownKiller]

Its takes months for a movie to reach singapore because govt need rate. blah stuff. Around the world almost everyone is downloading and watching video online. Their government says it's illegal but who cares? Their govt ain't that demanding.They give people some space to breath. In singapore..... you have to jump to breath .... haiz.......... Minister see those legal stuff as peanut whereas we see it as hmm food.

Anyway i dont download and watch or listen. I watch and listen online =X

[amktsy]

actually i will download songs.
i know it is illegal so when i download it,i will also want to buy the cd.
but i can't find them in a lot of places~
e.g. i like all songs from boys over flwers ost 1 and i just want to buy now(not online)
but i don't know where got sell perhaps didn't even sell.
i will like to download legally , but there is no clear info where to download legally.

[ValkyrieLenneth]

actually i wont bother to download movie as i want pure effects so i would just go cinema instead. music albums r pretty hard to get in local as most music store only import 'famous' singers. even games i dun dl as my com spec sux to the max

[platform]

im sure everyone knows about Intellectual Property, but they dont practise it

[Sens]

ALMOST all Singaporeans know that illegal downloads of the latest U2 album or Wolverine movie is wrong,

So i guess those who duno are those who duno how to use the internet

[Voodoo Vince]

Most are aware, and still downloading illegal stuff from internet.