[HansTWN]

Why do so many approach the issue from the angle "was the copyright holder really hurt?" Even if he or she was not, the really important angle should be "what on earth has the downloader done to deserve taking something he or she has no right to?" Since when did freeloading become such a noble act? Why not just read or watch something else, that is legally free? In the end I do blame the Google culture of ad supported "anything is free". Unfortunately the copyright owners do not get anything from the ad revenue on Pirate Bay. So this model does not apply here.

And all this talk about the salaries of the executive at the publishing houses. Not totally unjustified in some cases, I give you that. Though there are plenty of lower level employees working at those company working hard for their salaries. But why then are those same people supporting the millions the people that run the piracy websites (as the recent MegaUpload case clearly demonstrated) and not ranting against them? Double standards, I would say.