BBC - dot.life: How damaging is illegal file-sharing?.
It's an emotive and nebulous issue - exactly how damaging is illegal file-sharing to the creative industries?
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For example, when a pre-production version of the Hollywood blockbuster movie Wolverine was leaked on the net an estimated four million people downloaded a copy, and the FBI was called in to investigate.However, critics pointed out that the film went on to make $160m in five days across more than 100 different countries, including about $85m in North America alone.
Apparently Fox, the studio behind the film, believe the takings would have topped $100m in North America had it not been for the leak.
However, figures like $160m do little to convince sceptics who believe the effect of illegal file-sharing is overstated.



