Quote:
Originally Posted by HarryT
That's totally irrevelant. I haven't read many of the ebooks that I've legally bought. Do I only pay for them when I read them? Copyright infringement occurs at the time you download the unauthorised copy. Whether or not you use the file doesn't change the offence in the slightest.
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Hmm...does it, actually? Is it infringement just to have the item in your possession, or does the infringement occur because of the distribution? If somebody gives me a copy of a book on a thumb drive or dvd, it's in my possession, but I didn't copy it in any way. However, by your definition, I can be liable for a life-crippling fine just because I have it in my possession.
What about people who buy unauthorized copies without realizing that they aren't legitimate? Are they subject to fines? They have the unauthorized copies in their possession, don't they? My point is that you are seeing this in black and white, and it's not a black and white issue.
Shari