Quote:
Originally Posted by Elfwreck
Although that doesn't involve non-customers reading the book, it is depriving the author of money, just as much, often more, than downloading a free copy.
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It also costs authors money when people defend piracy, because it makes it more socially acceptable; a lot of people follow what others do. But it would absurd to say that you are taking something that isn't yours by expressing an opinion, whether over the quality of their book or how to obtain it. Authors lack a comprehensive right to other people not harming them. But they do have, in my view at least, a right to their intellectual property, even if exercising it would hold them harmless. And I look forward to the day when it starts being enforced, so long as punishment isn't severe enough to harm downloaders' future life prospects.
If someone takes something of mine and is arrested, I hope the court is not going force the prosecution to prove I was harmed. Maybe my house has so much clutter I'm better off without that stuff. Maybe it was just a bunch of old junk I was about to throw out. Maybe I am pleased with my homeowner's insurance settlement (and the insurer did, for the long term, OK as well, because I was so pleased that I switched to them for car insurance). But it would be insulting if the judge allowed testimony concerning whether I was really harmed. Harm or no harm, it is wrong to appropriate my stuff without paying for it.
P.S. Do I ever do stuff that is wrong? Of course I have. Everyone has. I just don't think I should defend it. Instead I should try to not do it again.