Quote:
Originally Posted by HarryT
Unfortunately, the English language doesn't work the way you'd like it to. I wish you the best of luck in persuading people that "identity theft isn't theft because the original isn't gone".
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I don't think it's just a matter of language. In 2009 the Corte di Cassazione (the Italian Supreme Court) ruled exactly that way: illict donwloading is definitely not a theft offense because the allegedly stolen good is is still available to the victim and the downloader was acquitted. A new trial for copyright infringment was to be initiated.
On the other hand, "identity theft" is a specific type of offense with its own rules and penalties.
Of course, US and UK laws may differ...