[rythie]

You can't eliminate it completely, though companies like Nike, Apple and Microsoft are able to continue being profitable despite widespread pirating of their goods. In part the problem is that piracy is easier than current methods of getting content and partly that businesses haven't adapted to the new business models needed.

[DilipJ]

They are still profitable, but obviously they would more profitable without piracy. That is a point that needs to be considered. No one can just suddenly state that one company has too much profit. Just because media companies are profitable doesn't excuse pirating of their products

[rythie]

Don't make the mistake of assuming that pirating users would pay for something they currently value as zero. Also there is a trial effect where people pirate software like Photoshop at home, learn how to use it and later on get employers to by it for them when they are employed.

[DilipJ]

but they don't value it at zero. if they did they wouldn't pirate it in the first place. pirating takes time (which is valuable) and storage on a hard disk, which has a cost. so any pirater is valuing it on some level. as for the photoshop example, again you are attempting to rationalize a crime. Companies already provide subsidized software for students so that they can gain familiarity with it prior to entering the workforce

[rythie]

Yes it's already a crime and personally I wish people would just use gimp which is free. People behave in a certain way and changes to law won't really change that - given that these activities are already against the law.