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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Janx" data-source="post: 2721588" data-attributes="member: 8835">I'm pondering the concept that pirating PDFs isn't stealing.Let's assume you WERE going to buy the PDF.  But you decided to steal it.  The argument is, you're not taking anything AWAY from me.  I have the same amount of money and inventory before and after the "theft".  So is it theft?Now if it wasn't a PDF, but a little knick-knack that I hand-carved, and you stole it off my cart, that'd be stealing.  If it were a book that I wrote and hand-bound myself, and you stole it off the shelf, now that'd be stealing.  Let's presume my book making skills are crap, and the only thing of value in the book is the content itself.  Because you physically stole one of my books, it's theft.  But the only significant thing I actually lost is the content (because I do shoddy, cheap, and quick book binding).  How is this DIFFERENT than stealing a PDF of my book, which is essentially the same thing (the content)?The point here is, in the old days, stuff was valuable because it was the physical thing itself that held value.  A gun, and statue, etc.  However, for a writer, the content is the thing that holds value, not the vehicle of transmission.The basic premise of money is this, you give me money, and I'll give you a good or service.  If you don't give me money you have to SUFFER the LACK of my good or service.  I think this is where DannyAlcatraz says the pirate has stolen LOTS of $$$, because you didn't pay for it, you're supposed to be suffering.  Since you aren't, you owe money.All of this became complicated when ideas became valuable.  Back in the old days, you simply paid somebody to move heavy things for you, or to build something for you.  If you could do the task yourself, you could, if you wanted.   As things got more complicated, you couldn't make things yourself, you needed specialists.  Copy protection was built into the system (who here knows how to make a wagon (including the wheels)?).  Now we've come to the point, where there's not really a physical thing, it's just the idea itself that is important.The challenge is this.  You could technically write your own Arcana Evolved.  Or buy Monte's.  Or steal a copy from Monte.  However, like the wagon makers of old, if you don't BUY Monte's copy, then Monte won't be able to keep making more new things.  And if Monte is a skilled craftsman of such works, then the only kind of product that will be in the market are the lower quality free ones, because creators of free products won't have the freetime and resources to dedicate to making a quality product.Look at it this way, what if there were no copyright law or patent law?  If you could get a copy of the content or concept, you are free to use it without paying the creator.  Let's even assume that all creations are magically posted to <a href="http://www.freeideas.org" target="_blank">www.freeideas.org</a> (made up site name, don't bother...) for anybody to use.Why should Monte put in any time writing?Why should he put in time editting his work?why should he put in time doing layout, instead of just putting his ideas on a forum as a post?I write software for a living, so consider:Why should I write any code?Why should I invent anything? The code I write is my value-add to my employer.  It represents my unique solution to my employer's problems.  I assert that my code is better than my competitors (other programmers or companies), as such, I should be granted more projects (and more money).  If anybody could get my code, I or my employer would lose such advantage.Furthermore, if my employer can just get FREE code, he has less use for me, and that decreases my value.  This reciprocates, and pretty soon, you won't get much more free code except from hobbyists (who are NOT necessarily as good as I am).This also applies to my ideas, many of which are patentable (I've got one in the queue right now at the USPTO).  If others can take my ideas, then I can't get an advantage to get use it.Ever wonder why guilds and unions exist?  To protect their knowledge and lifestyle.  To create a barrier to entry and elimination.  To ensure the field survives.  If you can take my work without paying me, then I can't sustain a living as a creator.Ever wonder why all the jobs are leaving the US?  Because we keep finding cheaper sources elsewhere.  Piracy is simply the cheapest source around.  The thing to remember, the people you are cutting out of the transaction are the ones who are hurt.  This includes manufacturers, programmers, and RPG writers.  Don't complain when all those people find a way to outsource or pirate your job and work, if you helped do it to them.Janx</blockquote>

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