Quote:
Originally Posted by Nate the great
I did not say that; I merely asked you to prove your statement. Please do not put words in my mouth.
You made a statement along the lines of apples=oranges; please prove it.
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Nobody is putting words in your mouth. You said that an author demanding that you do not download his work for free, demanding that he is to be paid for years of work is barbaric. You reduce the monetary value of his work by downloading it for free and sharing it.
Is it theft when obtain all the knowledge that is necessary to copy a prototype of a new gadget and then go ahead manufacturing it? You are taking something away that could be used to make money. And you are making the original worthless (or at least worth a lot less). Would be fine according to your arguments, you are not stealing the prototype itself, just the data.
This distinction between physical and digital items is completely arbitrary. You take something that belongs to someone else and you use it without his consent. You are intentionally inflicting serious financial harm.