Criminology’s contribution to the study of digital piracy

One of the most common forms of cybercrime is the downloading of digital media, such as music, movies, and software, over the Internet, which is known as digital piracy. Digital piracy may be the most commonly committed form of cybercrime, with estimates suggesting that up to 86 percent of college students commit piracy at some point in their lives (Gunter, 2009; Higgins, 2006; Higgins et al., 2009; Hinduĵa, 2003; Skinner & Fream, 1997; Vandiver et al., 2012). Although popular, digital piracy is still a form of cybercrime that leads to significant financial harm for copyright holders. Its popularity and significant financial impact are two of several reasons why criminologists have focused heavily on this form of cybercrime in comparison to others.