I just don't get it. If some film is unavailable in some region, piracy in that region has no conceivable impact on sales. And so how can there be any damages? Do you argue that piracy notwithstanding, people would be migrating to places with better licensing deals?

In this region: Movies are not available legally, and so people pirate them. When those people come to HN to say why they pirate movies other people say "just buy the DVD", or "just go without".

"Just buy the DVD" doesn't work for the reasons given; just go without is dumb for the reasons you give.

I don't think I'm arguing for the position you think I'm arguing for.

What are you arguing for?

> If some film is unavailable in some region, piracy in that region has no conceivable impact on sales.

This is definitely not true. Piracy in that region builds up a support infrastructure for piracy that can be used in other regions. It builds social support for piracy, and can spread, as a cultural practice, when people from the afflicted region converse with people from other regions. All of those things can impact sales outside the region.

That's rather tenuous. It's also arguable that piracy in such regions helps popularize a film, through reviews social media, etc. And so it would increase sales elsewhere.

And there's a simple solution: Make sure that your stuff is available legally everywhere. Because if it's not, you know that it will be pirated.