Quote:
Originally Posted by Ninjalawyer
So, would you agree then that if evidence were to show that an extremely heavy fine had no benefit over a small fine in stopping illegal downloading, there would be no reason to set an extremely heavy fine? I would take this position, as it is fundamentally just to impose only the penalty absolutely necessary and no more.
I have no interest in seeing people punished just because they get something for free, they should only be punished if they both: (i) get something for free; and (ii) getting that something for free causes a harm to someone else.
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One small case of harming someone else (and I have personally seen it actually happen at least twice this summer) Person A says I must get a book, and person B says 'Oh, don't pay for it, I've got every book that guy wrote, I'll email it to you'. In both cases that I have overheard, Person B has said "OK thanks"
In both cases it is a likely assumption that person B would have bought the book, but did not buy the book.
Not going to bankrupt anyone, but still.
Helen
Helen