I think one can assume that the funding comes from the IDEA from this sentence: >This research was conducted as part of Carnegie Mellon University’s Initiative

I think one can assume that the funding comes from the IDEA from this sentence: >This research was conducted as part of Carnegie Mellon University’s Initiative for Digital Entertainment Analytics (IDEA). The IDEA is apparently a think-tank to help "groups like MPAA and policymakers [to] navigate the changing digital media landscape."[1] Interestingly, funding for the IDEA has been made possible by "an unrestricted gift from the Motion Picture Association of America." [2] Edit: From one of the author's blog it looks like the study has been submitted for peer review: "The study is currently under peer review at a good econ journal." [3] It seems that the SSRN where this paper is currently hosted is to social sciences and economics as to what arxiv is for natural sciences: a repository for yet unreviewed drafts of papers. [1] http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/blog/innovation/2012/10/mpaa-teams-with-cmu-to-fund-new-center.html http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/blog/innovation/2012/1... [2] http://www.techtaffy.com/carnegie-mellon-launches-digital-entertainment-analytics-initiative/ http://www.techtaffy.com/carnegie-mellon-launches-digital-en... [3] http://brettdanaher.wordpress.com/2013/03/12/megaupload-shutdown-increased-sales-of-digital-movies/ http://brettdanaher.wordpress.com/2013/03/12/megaupload-shut...