[dumpsterdiver]

I mean... yeah. In the meantime you haven't taken anything from that person; they are performing on a public street. On the contrary, similar to a packed restaurant, your presence might signal to others that there is something worth experiencing where you and your friends are crowded. This could in turn benefit the person you're crowded around by bringing more wallets within earshot. So you haven't actually given nothing, you've given your attention, and you've advertised for that person as if you were wearing a giant chicken suit spinning a sign and shouting, "Hey everyone, check out this person! Their music is good enough to attract a crowd!"

The fact that your friends in this scenario would weirdly shower you with expensive gifts after inviting them to watch a street musician perform doesn't negate the free advertising you've provided.

[throwaway290]

Yes, the performer would benefit from that attention. Maybe some of the people your presence brings around will tip them, etc.

The difference is that the existence of the performer is super obvious while in this case author and their work is hidden so author will not benefit in the same way.

[dumpsterdiver]

> The difference is

Sure, that does differentiate the two scenarios. I was responding specifically to the first scenario.

I have an arguably bad habit of responding only to specific points that people make in their arguments, while ignoring the rest of their argument until they address the unresolved point. In this case, someone tried to make a point about standing around street performers. I had something to say about it.

[throwaway290]

I see, I took it as objection to the bigger point, because many probably do the same if you want to avoid misunderstanding you can keep doing what you're doing just with a clarification that you have no strong opinion on the issue

[Talanes]

The author is also hidden from anyone who would be authorizing payment. The only person involved who might know the author is the guy making the game, and they likely used what leverage they had on their own contract.

[throwaway290]

based on what I know about other engineers it's almost certain that no one used any leverage whatsoever and the only reason they even checked the license is because legal forced them