book
Intellectual property is at the forefront of our continued progression into the Information Age, and is integral to the stability, vitality, and growth of private sector companies, public sector organizations, and even individual lives. It is the creative output that results from our time, effort, and resources - and has both intrinsic and material value that must be safeguarded. Its increasing availability on the Internet in the form of music, movies, software, and other types of proprietary information has opened up a world of deviant possibilities for individuals so inclined. Unfortunately, technological solutions to prevent the theft or misuse of intellectual property are generally circumvented or thwarted. In the current study, The author calls for a broader approach that recognizes the social, psychological, criminological, and behavioral aspects of Internet crime. Guided by the most prominent general theories of criminal behavior, The author explores the potential causes of music piracy - an all too-common form of cybercrime - by attempting to answer a number of questions. Does stress and strain play a role? What about low self-control? Is music piracy learned within intimate social groups? Do rationalizations and justifications contribute to participation? Is the behavior strengthened or weakened through rewards and punishments? The author then proposes a model which integrates both "social" and "technical" factors to inform and guide strategies to combat music piracy, and potentially other variants of high-tech crime