Is piracy stealing?

Steinar · Jan 03, 2016 11:23 PM

I've been thinking about this lately. When you watch online series, or stuff. Isn't it more like sharing? I mean i've heard debates about it. And sharing it is different than physically stealing. Although one should maybe try to be supportive. But in general its been argued that they don't actually lose money from it. In terms of sharing, its just a way of spreading it to see if people are interested in the product.

I am just curious to what your thoughts are?

EricChristianOlsenFanatic · Jan 03, 2016 11:48 PM

I don't really think of it as stealing considering other people do it too.

LXShadow · Jan 04, 2016 1:56 AM

When thinking about this question I just envision myself as the content creator.

Say you've made a game priced at $10. 9,001 people bought it. Awesome, $90,010 for the hard work! Woot!

On the other hand, another 1,001 people (yarrrr!) also own and played through your entire game but they didn't pay for it. They might cite reasons such as 'not enjoying it enough'. The reason this is ethically unsound is the same reason that grocery stores don't let you walk away with food, and then let them know afterwards whether you're interested in paying for the produce.

The arguable difference to piracy is that it's only half-stealing: they do walk away with something, but you don't lose anything. When something is stolen you lose the item. When something is pirated you just lose the money you could've made from it. So...is that stealing? Not really if you want to be strict about the definition, but that's also kinda not the problem here. You kinda deserve that money, since that's what you're asking in return, as the creator, for the use of your product.

So it may be safe to say piracy isn't stealing. But looking at the bigger picture it's not the definition of 'stealing' that's the problem, right? It's the idea that people are walking away with your produce and you get zilch for it, despite investing in its creation.

That's my view on it, though I've gotta admit I'm guilty of pirating media (anime or cartoons) when I have no easy way to access it legally e.g. Crunchyroll. Regardless, it's never truly legally justifiable, but a lot of people like me just follow their own personal views on what's reasonable and what isn't. The fact that these things are usually made by massive groups of several people you don't know who get who-knows-how-much of the money in who-knows-what-ways, also blurs the ethical lines way more than it should compared to e.g. personal projects.

Steinar · Jan 04, 2016 10:38 AM

Last edited by Steinar (Jan 04, 2016 12:34 PM)

Swaffy · Jan 06, 2016 12:47 AM

Seeing how they are digital copies, what is one really stealing?

Money?

pff

Gekoncze · Jan 08, 2016 5:37 PM

I agree with LX mostly. Also, Steinar made a good point by saying it can gain popularity like that, but that might also be helped by providing free demo versions. An important point thought is that if they didn't pirate the game, would they really buy it? Would the seller in the end really loose some money? Maybe the people would go out play football instead! (or in case of movies watch it together in bigger groups) I don't like when people on TV make calculations of how much money did the company loose, because nobody can ever know.

I myself try to support (not only) games I really like, I would feel bad if I didn't, knowing they did a good job.

Last edited by Gekoncze (Jan 08, 2016 5:38 PM)

RangerOfIthilien · Jan 17, 2016 2:25 PM

I've always considered it stealing because you're obtaining something that has a set value without having to give up the cost of that value.

Dark Intentions · Jan 25, 2016 3:44 AM

Swaffy · Jan 25, 2016 4:01 AM

Please take my last comment lightly. Heh, I'm aware. But what I do hate is ridiculously overpriced software. Double, triple, or higher than what it is worth.

Dark Intentions · Jan 25, 2016 4:07 AM

Another fine example of a viewpoint that can significantly alter the definition of "stealing".

Steinar · Jan 25, 2016 5:24 AM

Well companies now don't really re-sell unknown old games either way. Even though i am gonna get a PS3 i am not so sure all PS1 games i have burned will be there. And its not like they earn cash from me buying used original PS1 games. So i'd say i am more or less faultless with the times now. But one thing is for sure. They sure could make better games in the 90s, and even PS2 games had some gold ones. After that it has been just bad mostly. Although some golden games like Metal Gear Rising is awesome though big_smile

Last edited by Steinar (Jan 25, 2016 5:24 AM)

Swaffy · Jan 26, 2016 8:02 AM

Paranoia · Jan 26, 2016 4:54 PM

Swaffy · Jan 27, 2016 9:05 AM

Dark Intentions · Feb 02, 2016 4:37 AM

Steinar · Feb 06, 2016 8:13 PM

Last edited by Steinar (Feb 06, 2016 8:17 PM)

#1 Jan 03, 2016 11:23 PM

Is piracy stealing?

#2 Jan 03, 2016 11:48 PM

Re: Is piracy stealing?

#3 Jan 04, 2016 1:56 AM

Re: Is piracy stealing?

#4 Jan 04, 2016 10:38 AM

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#5 Jan 06, 2016 12:47 AM

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#6 Jan 08, 2016 5:37 PM

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#7 Jan 17, 2016 2:25 PM

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#8 Jan 25, 2016 3:44 AM

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#9 Jan 25, 2016 4:01 AM

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#10 Jan 25, 2016 4:07 AM

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#11 Jan 25, 2016 5:24 AM

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#12 Jan 26, 2016 8:02 AM

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#13 Jan 26, 2016 4:54 PM

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#14 Jan 27, 2016 9:05 AM

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#15 Feb 02, 2016 4:37 AM

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#16 Feb 06, 2016 8:13 PM

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