Influence of Internet Use on the Copyright Infringement of Electronic Information Resources by Undergraduates in two Universities in South-West, Nigeria

This study investigated Influence of Internet Use on the Copyright Infringement of Electronic Information Resources by Undergraduates in two Universities in South-West, Nigeria. The descriptive research design of the correlational type was adopted for this study. The undergraduates of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba, and University of Ibadan, Ibadan formed the population of the study using two-stage sampling technique. A total of 375 questionnaires were distributed across the two university with a retrieval success of 372 copies, representing 99.2% return rate. Data were analysed using percentages and Pearson Product Moment Correlation analysis. The findings of this study revealed that in University of Ibadan, and Adekunle Ajasin University, the major purpose for which the undergraduates use the Internet was to obtain educational and research information while the least purpose of the use of the Internet in University of Ibadan was to make use of it for e-commerce such as online sales and trading and in Adekunle Ajasin University, the least purpose of use of the Internet was to watch movies or entertain themselves. Findings revealed that in University of Ibadan, and Adekunle Ajasin University, undergraduates use Internet daily for communication and correspondence, while the least of the frequency of Internet use in University of Ibadan was to use Internet to obtain educational and research information and in Adekunle Ajasin University the least frequency of use was to watch movies or entertain themselves. Findings revealed that in University of Ibadan, and Adekunle Ajasin University, inadequate power supply or electricity was the major constraints to Internet use by the undergraduates, while the least constraints to Internet use in University of Ibadan was lack of training on the use of internet and in Adekunle Ajasin University the least constraints to Internet use was lack of time. Findings also revealed that undergraduates in University of Ibadan, and Adekunle Ajasin University plagiarised as they sometimes quote without acknowledgement, summarised texts without appropriate reference to the author of the text and do hack into restricted access materials through websites like Sci-hub.tw. respectively. Findings revealed that there is no significant relationship between Internet use and copyright infringement on EIR by the undergraduates (Df= 370, N= 372, r= .046, P > 0.05). It was recommended that the Universities Faculties and Departments should organise workshop or orientation for the undergraduates to sensitise them on copyright infringement and the legal issues surrounding the use of electronic information resources.