Good day boys and girls. So let me ask you, what are your thoughts on piracy. Such as illegal music download, software & movie piracy? In recent times there has been stiffer penalties for being found guilty of the offense. many people have different arguments for/against piracy. For example, those who are against piracy says it's like "stealing goods". On the other hand, those who practice/support piracy say that the original product is too expensive to buy and therefore have resorted to illegal means of getting the product. So what do you guys think and if you're against piracy what penalties should be given?

Piracy is illegal. period. Its the same as stealing money from someone. If you have a job would you like it if someone else was paid for the hours that you worked ?

>>On the other hand, those who practice/support piracy say that the original product is too expensive to buy and therefore have resorted to illegal means of getting the product.
Bullpucky. A thief is still a thief by any other name.

Too hot to touch!

Piracy is wrong, period. You can rationalize it with different motives, but in the end you're still refusing to honor the creator's wishes even though they have every right to distribute their creation however they choose.

The penalty should be identical to theft. You're punished in a way that's representative of the value of the product you've stolen and the value of the product is the listed price. Even if you personally don't agree with the cost of a product, you're not the one who sets the price.

Of course, just like any crime, piracy is a choice. You can choose whether or not to commit the crime for whatever reasons you want. But as with any crime, you should risk getting caught and being punished.

>You're punished in a way that's representative of the value of the product you've stolen and the value of the product is the listed price.

Software "piracy" is not theft. Theft means to "deprive someone of property by taking it." A"pirate" is not depriving the creator of any property he owns nor deserves.

>But as with any crime, you should risk getting caught and being punished.

It's small enough to be negligible. Would I rather pay $6000 for some software or would I rather "pirate" it with the negligible downside of being caught? I, and most others I hazard to guess, would take the "piracy" route.

>Theft means to "deprive someone of property by taking it."
So depriving someone of money by taking something without paying for it isn't theft?

>It's small enough to be negligible.
As I said, you can rationalize it however you want. That doesn't change what it is.

>So depriving someone of money by taking something without paying for it isn't theft?

If I wasn't going to buy it in the first place, no it's not.

You can villainize it all you want. That doesn't change what it is.

Oh, so now shoplifting isn't theft either. Do you go into your local Wal-Mart store with no intention of buying anything and walking out with your pockets full of movies and games ? If you get caught (which you will) most likely the police will be called and you will be invited to spend several days (if you are lucky) as the guest in the local jail.

>>You can villainize it all you want. That doesn't change what it is
Absolutely -- its a criminal offense.

>Oh, so now shoplifting isn't theft either.

You're depriving the store of property aren't you? If I "pirate" software that I have no intention of buying, I'm not directly hurting the creator.

>Absolutely -- its a criminal offense.

Do laws dictate your moral outlook on the world? They certainly don't influence mine. Who are you to claim that your morality is superior or "more right" than mine?

>>Do laws dictate your moral outlook on the world
>>Who are you to claim that your morality is superior or "more right" than mine?

I was not referring to morality but what is the law of the land. Here is just one of many explainations, but you probably already know that, or you should know it. When you steal software you are violation federal and international copyright laws.

>>They certainly don't influence mine
Then you are a fool.