Unauthorized, illegal peer-to-peer music file sharing (hereafter, music file sharing) is proving to be an eminent social issue (Clark 2010). Evidence includes the recent heated debate regarding the proposed Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Protect IP Act (PIPA) by congressional leaders, industries, and consumers (Weisman 2012). Music file sharing continues to abound despite attempts at a wide variety of approaches to limit such unauthorized media consumption behavior (Clark 2010; David 2010; Mazar and Ariely 2006). Research notes that music downloading presents a unique opportunity to examine normative influences, such as ethical perceptions, on media consumption (LaRose and Kim 2007). And, such examination would help address the call for a deeper understanding of the antecedents of exchange taboos (Belk 2005).
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