Washington - The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) has admitted there was a "human error" in a 2005 study on illegal downloading it commissioned, which attributed 40% of the movie industry industry's domestic losses from illegal downloading to college students -- a figure it now pegs at around 15%, the Associated Press reported. "We take this error very seriously and have taken strong and immediate action to both investigate the root cause of this problem as well as substantiate the accuracy of the latest report," the group said.

The MPAA had used the study, conducted by research firm LEK, as a springboard to compel both schools and Congress to take action against illegal downloading on campus networks.

"The 44 percent figure was used to show that if college campuses could somehow solve this problem on this campus, then it would make a tremendous difference in the business of the motion picture industry," Mark Luker, vice president of campus technology issues group Educase, told AP.

Lukas added that over 80% of college students live off campus, many without access to campus networks.

Lukas told AP he believes 3% of the movie industry's revenues would be a more accurate representation of potential losses due to campus piracy.

Related Links:
http://snipurl.com/1y38y (AP)

http://www.educause.edu

http://www.mpaa.org