scottyhotty wrote:First of all, I work in radio, so I have a little understanding for the artists who do work hard to make their money. Sure they make a hell of a lot more than me, but still that doesn't give us the right to steal from them. They are people too you know.
Sure. That doesn't make black into white or water into wine, though. As for the radio bit that you imply, you are aware that the performing artist gets nothing for a track played on the radio, aren't you? The only royalties due are to the songwriter, and all of those are statuatory. Congress made this choice on the grounds of, surprise,
radio being free promotion for the artist. If you don't believe me, check your history.
scottyhotty wrote:But let me get this straight. You are saying that piracy ISN'T theft? Wow! I didn't know that! Someone call the lawyers who shut down Napster!
That would be correct. Napster was shut down over the issues of copyright infringement and piracy, not of theft. If the issue had been theft, that Napster would still be going strong.
scottyhotty wrote:You sir, are probably one of those kiddy Gen-X gamers who believe that they own the world and can do as they please. Well, I hate to burst YOU'RE (sorry, I had to do that =P) bubble, but while the word of the law does make physical theft and D/Ling copied songs different, they are both stealing. Key word here is stealing.
Yes and no. Yes, the law does make a distinction. No, they are not the same. Let me provide you with functioning definitions:
Mirriam-Webste wrote:rMain Entry: theft
Pronunciation: 'theft
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English thiefthe, from Old English thIefth; akin to Old English thEof thief
1 a : the act of stealing; specifically : the felonious taking and removing of personal property with intent to deprive the rightful owner of it b : an unlawful taking (as by embezzlement or burglary) of property
(definitions two and three left off as irrelevent)
I fail to see how copying a file is deprving the rightful owner of said file. Since I am not claiming that I own the copyrights, I have not
stolen anything.
Mirriam-Webster wrote:Main Entry: pi·ra·cy
Pronunciation: 'pI-r&-sE
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural -cies
Etymology: Medieval Latin piratia, from Late Greek peirateia, from Greek peiratEs pirate
3 : the unauthorized use of another's production, invention, or conception especially in infringement of a copyright
(definitions one and two removed as irrelevent - arr, matey!)
Now, which covers copyright infringement?
Piracy or
theft?
Ad hominum attacks will get you nowhere. Also, for the record, the so-called "Generation X" demographic is generally considered to have been born between 1965 and 1975, so I think you're a bit off.
Either way, my attitude towards the world has no bearing here. Rather, I simply refuse to let you and your RIAA masters redefine the language (and thus terms of this issue) as you see fit.