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Old 12-10-2008, 05:23 PM   #62
cynoclast
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cynoclast began at the beginning.
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RickyMaveety View Post
Well, over here, if you know (and that's the key word .... "know") that you are paying for stolen goods, then you have entered into a conspiracy with the person who has done the theft, and you have taken an action in furtherance of that conspiracy (by giving them the money for the stolen thing).

It would probably depend on the value of the property, but I have seen people prosecuted for lots of illegal purchases. For example, paying someone for kiddie-porn is illegal, even if you never receive the porn. Paying someone for sex is illegal ... even if you never actually have sex with the person. In the case of never getting the stolen goods, it's generally considered "solicitation" to commit a crime.

Again ... it's going to come down to the value of the goods, or the seriousness of the illegality of those goods (drugs, porn .... that sort of thing).

But, you know, with the authorities in this country practically going bonkers over digital piracy, I wouldn't put it past them to prosecute someone over something like this.
Except that making a copy of a digital thing is not theft. The legal definition is copyright infringement. I'm not saying it's legal, but calling it theft is incorrect.
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