SOFTWARE COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENTS - AN EXPLORATORY-STUDY OF THE EFFECTS OF INDIVIDUAL AND PEER BELIEFS

Based on the reasoned action and the differential association theories , a model is derived to explore the effects of individual and peer bel iefs on software copyright infringements in Saudi Arabia. This study p resents empirical evidence about this developing country on the impact of beliefs on behavior regarding ethical issues that can arise as a r esult of ethical dilemmas, in a culture that is different from those e xisting in developed countries, Within this juxtaposition, emphasizing intellectual property right issues in Saudi Arabia provides the tensi on from which this study strives to stimulate interest in ethical issu es where no previous empirical investigations have been found. The sce nario method has been adopted to collect data from 278 respondents, Th e results show that individual and peer beliefs have significant effec ts on ethical intention to observe or infringe software copyright and, hence, on software piracy, The findings and their implications are di scussed. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.