SOFTWARE PIRACY - IS IT RELATED TO LEVEL OF MORAL JUDGMENT

The possible relationship between widespread unauthorized copying of m icrocomputer software (also known as software piracy) and level of mor al judgment is examined through analysis of over 350 survey questionna ires that included the Defining Issues Test as a measure of moral deve lopment. It is hypothesized that the higher one's level of moral judgm ent, the less likely that one will approve of or engage in unauthorize d copying. Analysis of the data indicate a high level of tolerance tow ard unauthorized copying and limited support for the hypothesis. The m ost plausible explanation for these findings is that software copying is perceived as an issue of low moral intensity. This study calls into question the software industry's strategy of concentrating exclusivel y on institutional compliance with copyright rules, rather than workin g to raise the perceived moral intensity about software piracy at the individual level. As long as the issue remains low in moral intensity, the industry cannot expect significant shifts in copying behaviors. I ndividuals must become more aware of and concerned about the nature an d magnitude of harm to society and to the rightful copyright owners fr om unauthorized copying before their attitudes and behaviors come to r eflect higher levels of moral judgment.