I don't think they're implying the subtitles themselves are piracy, but the users of opensubtitles.org are overwhelmingly using them for pirated media. The subs are all indexed against scene versions of the video files (as you can tell from their names), and that's what most users are using it for. After all, streaming services, DVDs, and other legitimate ways of consuming these shows/movies already come with subtitles.
No, the 0.1% of subs for obscure indie shows that didn't have native subs doesn't change that.
It takes hours of work to translate one hour of movie, so when a translated subtitle is copied, it is most certainly piracy. If you are faster than that please consider becoming a translator for sites like the TED foundation.
No, the 0.1% of subs for obscure indie shows that didn't have native subs doesn't change that.