[dsuden]

I'll acknowledge I know from first-hand experience the art of introducing clever circumvention mechanisms into my thought processes when I'm tempted to do what's clearly wrong. Over the years I've learned that I don't have to "travel" nearly as far in when I stick to doing what's right.

But on this issue, parsing by any means is difficult. It doesn't work to dilute or divert blame for stolen works. The word "copyright" speaks for itself. It refers to "copy rights." If we don't have "copy rights," we have no right to make and/or keep a copy of something we have not purchased. Nor do we have the right to duplicate copyrighted materials and distribute them to others without the consent of the person owning the copyright. To do so is, by law, theft.

None of this is to say I necessarily agree with the way the laws are currently applied. But I think it's more credible to work within the law, and if necessary, help change it, rather than performing my own "moral rewrite" of the law by doing whatever I please.