Quote:
Originally Posted by shalym
Actually, I don't. Now if you could PROVE beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the person who downloaded the item was using it, then MAYBE your system would apply.
|
If beyond a shadow of a doubt is the standard, no one would ever be held to account for anything.
Quote:
|
In your bus analogy, there is no doubt that the person actually used the bus ride.
|
There's always doubt. Can you prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that their ticket wasn't stolen? And by the time it gets to a judge, what about mistaken identity? Or a bus inspector trying to meet an informal quota? Or retaliation because the ticket inspector wasn't offered a bribe? Or doesn't like your looks and demeanor? Etc. Etc.
Quote:
Originally Posted by HarryT
Being fined $100 for downloading $1000 of books is not a reasonable penalty; in fact it's not a penalty at all.
|
What about being given a $26 parking ticket in Philadelphia, where the parking lots cost about that for a day? Most people, including myself, nonetheless avoid illegal parking. One reason is that there are a lot of people checking the meters, so the chances of being caught are high. Punishment? Maybe not. Deterrence? Yes.