Internet streaming services such as Spotify and Netflix have resulted in online piracy falling to its lowest rate in years, an official report claims.
Research commissioned by the UK's Intellectual Property Office, which is tasked with fighting copyright infringement, found that 15% of internet users illegally accessed films, music and other material between March and May.
This is down from 18% a year ago and was the lowest recorded rate in the five years the study has been carried out.
Almost half, 44%, of internet users are using exclusively legal means, up from 39% at the end of last year. The remaining 31% did not download or stream any online content in the three-month period. The UK Minister for Intellectual Property, Baroness Lucy Neville-Rolfe, said: "Consumers appear to be turning towards legitimate streaming en masse."
On-demand internet services, which allow subscribers unlimited access to a catalogue of music or videos and films for a monthly fee or via an advertising-funded model, have been accused of diluting industry revenues and artists, including Taylor Swift, have restricted access on some platforms.
But the IPO's report, carried out by research group Kantar Media, suggested a strong link between the rise of such services and falling piracy. Up to 80% of music listeners now use exclusively legal means, up from 74% a year ago, and 31% of all internet users listen to streaming services, up from 27%.
The research showed that those using peer-to-peer file-sharing services - a popular way to pirate material - fell from 12% to 10% of all those who download or stream media.
There has been a decline in infringement and consumers appear to be turning towards legitimate streaming en masse.
The report showed that, while spending on music and films is rising, spending on video games and TV shows is falling.
