If buying isn't owning, piracy isn't stealing

Re:If buying isn't owning, piracy isn't stealing by photonerd on Saturday December 09, 2023 @06:27AM (#38580980)

Taking just means, broadly, “to gain or acquire”. Repetition of an incorrect point doesn’t make it any more valid I’m afraid.

Copying is often called taking a copy. Even basic usage of the term copying invalidates your point!

As for “not allowed” that will vary by contract/law/agreement/license/etc

This distinction is why it’s usually not downloaders that are punished, rather uploaders: they’re the ones that broke an agreement.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:If buying isn't owning, piracy isn't stealing by chrismorgan on Saturday December 09, 2023 @08:21AM (#38581732)

That sense of the word “take” is fairly consistently used of physical things, where you are depriving another of possession (with or without permission).

—⁂—

(Just for fun, The Devil’s Dictionary (not a work to be taken particularly seriously):

> TAKE, v.t. To acquire, frequently by force but preferably by stealth.

I quite like that way of putting it because it’s the megacorporations that are the pirates when they steal their DRM content back, because they are acquiring it from you so that you can’t have it, by force if they have to but they prefer stealth.)

[ Parent | on HN ]