Why Do Chinese Users Use Pirated Software: An Integrative Perspective?

From an integrative perspective, this study examines the effects of various factors on software users´ piracy behavioral intention. The results indicate that piracy behavioral intention of different groups of users is influenced by different factors in China. Common users´ piratical behavior intention is subjected to subjective norm, while that of professional users is affected by perceived behavioral control, and Firm users are mostly influenced by both punishment factors and perceived behavior control. It also finds that the intention of these three groups is influenced by attitude, but does not respond to the price of the legal software, which suggests Chinese users would never care about the price of legal software. The study provides useful information to resolve software piracy in China.