logoalt Hacker News

IgorPartolalast Saturday at 8:41 PM3 repliesview on HN

> It is technically stealing

It is technically not. Stealing means you have a thing, I steal it, now I have the thing and you do not. You can’t steal a copyright (aside from something like breaking into your stuff and stealing the proof that you hold the copyright), and then a song is downloaded the original copyright holder still have copy.

Calling piracy theft was MPAA/RIAA propaganda. Now people say that piracy is theft without ever even questioning it, so it was quite successful.


Replies

uhfraidlast Saturday at 10:06 PM

> Stealing means you have a thing, I steal it, now I have the thing and you do not.

that seems like an overly narrow definition… what about identity theft, or IP theft?

https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndca/pr/superseding-indictment-...

show 2 replies
tripdoutlast Saturday at 10:37 PM

You may not be stealing the actual content, more so “making a copy”, but in doing that you’re taking away money the artist would have earned if you bought their album or streamed it on Spotify (admittedly that’a a very small amount for the artist but that’s another thing)

And if I stole something physical you had for sale, you wouldn’t make the money, so the end result is effectively the same.

show 1 reply
cm2012last Saturday at 9:50 PM

Can you post your social security number and other personal info here then? You will still have it afterwards!

Oh also, I don't see why I should ever pay for trains or movie tickets if there are seats available. I can just walk in! The event will happen anyway. Its not stealing.

Everyone should just download all art, music and literature for free. Musicians, artists and writers can all make money some other way while I enjoy the works of their efforts.

show 1 reply