Quote:
Originally Posted by Nate the great
I realized something while reading this thread. I achieved insight into the ethics of piracy. Here it is:
It is no more right nor wrong to use the darknet than it is to use the public library.
Most everyone has agreed that there is nothing wrong in using a library.But it occurred to me that most have never really considered the ethics of it; they accept it because that was what they were taught at a young age.
Let's consider the library and the darknet. According to the accepted wisdom, the following is true:
Bob buys a book, and puts it in the library. A hundred people read it. This is good.
Bob buys a book, and puts it on the darknet. A hundred people read it. This is bad.
I would argue that the two situations are functionally the same. Let's dissect the ways they might not be.
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Some major ways they are different...
1. When you download the eBook, you have a copy. You now can do with that copy what you like. When you have a library book, it belongs to the library. You have to give it back. if you lose it or damage it, you have to pay for it.
2. When 100 people read the library copy that gets taken down so the library may then purchase more books from this author. Bob's eBook may be the only copy of that author's work you'll find on the Darknet.