Intellectual Property was lost, and you gained it. You are acquiring the thoughts, efforts, and hard work of the people who made the item without compensating them for it. Thus you are a thief.interwyrm said:Obviously I (and a few others) don't see things the same way as you do. To me, "piracy" is vastly different from stealing because a copyright violator does not diminish the possessions of another when he acquires for himself. If he would have otherwise bought the material, then a sale is lost. If he wasn't going to buy the material, absolutely nothing is lost.
I use a simple test:
- Did I get something (including knowledge or enjoyment)?
- Did I get it for free (and do not bicker about "I pay for internet access")?
- Is the only normal way to get it paying for it?
If you answer "yes" to all three questions, you stole it.