[meowface]

The CFAA is a very broad statute, but the US legal system still does focus heavily on intent both for charging and sentencing, as well as deciding whether to charge at all. Even if in theory 2 people are convicted under the exact same law, they could get drastically different sentences based on how the judge perceives the defendant's intent.

In this case there's almost no chance law enforcement would charge the researcher unless Moonpig decided to press charges. And even then, they may decide not to charge due to the facts of the case (though of course they legally can).