UK copyright progress threatened by stream-rippers, IPO warns

Stream-ripping is now the most virulent form of piracy in the United Kingdom and the biggest threat to copyright progress, the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) warns. 

A new report, commissioned by the IPO and PRS for Music, found that 7 million people – or 25% of UK internet users – either stream or download copyright infringing material.

The IPO’s Online Copyright Infringement (OCI) tracker also found that use of stream-ripping websites and apps – which allow users to illegally create permanent offline copies of music from services as Spotify and Deezer or movie and TV video from the likes of YouTube – increased by 141.3% between 2014 and 2016.

Such services (one with more than 60 million monthly users) lead to the infringement of "tens, or even hundreds of millions” of tracks a month.

57% of a survey of 9000 UK adults were aware of stream-ripping services, and 15% admitted to having used them.

Most of the latter were males aged between 16–34, from an upper middle class professional background. 54% accessed the services through apps, while search engines were also high on the list.

Alarmingly, one in five thought what they were doing was legal.

Multi-responses to why they stream-ripped were that the music was already used in another format (31%), that they wanted to listen to the tracks offline (26%), that they wanted to listen to music on the move (25%), and they couldn’t afford to buy (21%).

"We hope that this research will provide the basis for a renewed and re-focused commitment to tackling online copyright infringement," Robert Ashcroft, Chief Executive of PRS for Music, said.

“The long-term health of the UK’s cultural and creative sectors is in everyone’s best interests, including those of the digital service providers, and a coordinated industry and government approach to tackling stream ripping is essential.’

Ros Lynch, IPO Copyright and IP Enforcement Director, added: "It’s great that legal streaming sites continue to be a hugely popular choice for consumers. The success and popularity of these platforms show the importance of evolution and innovation in the entertainment industry.

"Ironically it is innovation that also benefits those looking to undermine IP rights and benefit financially from copyright infringement. There has never been more choice or flexibility for consumers of TV and music, however illicit streaming devices and stream-ripping are threatening this progress.

"Content creators deserve to be paid for their work – it is not a grey area. This government takes IP infringement extremely seriously and we are working with our industry partners and law enforcement to tackle this emerging threat."

The IPO found that the average UK music fan is spending more on music – now £75 (A$127.37) a year up from £68 ($115.48) the previous 12 months. 

Further details on the report are available online.

Of course stream-ripping is not just confined to the UK. Last September, TMN reported on how it had become a global phenomenon.

A study by the International Federation of Phonographic Industries (IFPI) of 13 music markets (including Australia) found that 49% of internet users aged between 16 to 24 had stream-ripped in the six months to April 2016. The figure was 41% in the same period a year before. 

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) estimated that the 30 most popular sites received 900 million users through July 2016.