[arkades]

Turns out "people are bored and entertainment isn't as freely available" is maybe not a great justification for stealing people's stuff.

I also know of a large number of libraries (e.g., NYPL) that suspended their requirement that people verify their address, so realistically, anyone anywhere could register an ebook-only library card and avail themselves.

[Semaphor]

> Turns out "people are bored and entertainment isn't as freely available" is maybe not a great justification for stealing people's stuff.

Luckily absolutely nothing was stolen.

[arkades]

You can assert copying isn't stealing, but the part where "I have something I didn't have a minute ago, and would normally have to pay money to acquire it, but didn't" is pretty clear-cut.

Just because someone wasn't deprived of the thing you now have doesn't mean they weren't deprived of something of value, and pretending otherwise is a juvenile see-no-evil defense.

[iopq]

That's literally why it's not stealing. It's not legal, but it's also by definition not theft.

[unreal37]

Agreed. "Piracy isn't theft" is such a cliche in these arguments.

The people downloading the books, music, movies, etc are getting something that they want, that normally costs money, for free.

Come up with a new word if it isn't theft. But it looks and acts like theft.

[Semaphor]

> and pretending otherwise is a juvenile see-no-evil defense.

And luckily I did not say that anywhere.