[sudosysgen]

By definition it cannot be theft. Because of sanctions, the Russians wouldn't be allowed to pay for Western software anyways, so there is no difference to the bottom line.

Whereas if they pirate Russian software or software they can buy, there is an impact to the bottom line.

As a result it can be seen as a logically consistent position.

[electrondood]

If I'm banned from a store, it's still theft if I take goods from that store without paying.

[postalrat]

In this case the store doesn't exist due to sanctions.

So if you take goods from a store that doesn't exist is it stealing?

[sudosysgen]

Because the store can't sell those goods. In this case the store can still sell the goods, and there is no lost revenue. There is not a single analogy to theft.

[akomtu]

Software isnt taken, it's replicated like photographs.