California Voters Strongly Support Legislation to Combat I.T. Theft

More than 75 Percent of voters feel stolen I.T. impacts California's economy

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Feb. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Protect California Jobs & Innovation today announced the results of a statewide survey that found that California voters intensely favor (88% support; 58% "strongly" support) enacting a law requiring state agencies and state contractors use only legal software.

The poll also shows that California voters regard the use of stolen software as having widespread repercussions that causes serious economic damage to California. California voters think stolen information technology affects the entire economy, with a striking 84 percent believing that the state loses jobs as a result of non-American companies using stolen information technology. 

These survey results show that California voters believe that technology (I.T.) theft equates to stealing jobs. They also believe that companies have the right to protect their products and should have the support of state legislation to do so.

Key findings include:

• 60 percent of respondents strongly agree that using unlicensed computer software is the same thing as stealing.
• 71 percent of respondents strongly agree it is the responsibility of all businesses to make sure they and the people they hire are not using stolen goods.
• 68 percent of respondents strongly agree California state and local governments should require public agencies and their vendors to use legally licensed software.

The telephone survey of 601 randomly-selected State of California registered voters was conducted by Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates (FM3) from December 6-11, 2011.

FM3 gauged California voters' perceptions about the illegal use of unlicensed information technology ("IT theft" or "software piracy"), and tested to what extent voters perceive that IT theft hurts the state's economy and results in California workers losing jobs.  The survey also examined voter support for enacting a new state law that would require state agencies and their contractors to use only legally licensed software products.

For a copy of the poll, please contact the Coalition at (916) 444-8897.

Stealing I.T. = Stealing Jobs

For more information visit www.facebook.com/StopPiracyProtectJobs

SOURCE Protect California Jobs & Innovation