ok so I'm landed myself in semantic waters again. Let me try to clarify everything at once
- People using Kazaa being charged full sentence as thiefs
I am against this. I think that's extremely unfair. i fully recognize and support a legal acknowledgement of variation in degree of crimes.
- Copy = Theft
I am against this as well. Very very clearly copying something (legal or not) is not theft.
- notTheft = OK
this is the implication you make when all you say is 'Copying isn't theft' in these cute videos and photoshops. It's probably not what you mean but that's what you're implying. You're implying that because it isn't theft it isn't a crime. When in fact is IS a crime. it's just not as big a crime as theft.
- Copy is illegal
grey area i suppose. but over all i don't think copying should be illegal. I wouldn't stand in front of a judge and defend that to the bar but that's my opinion right now. I have lot of them and generally I only share the ones I'm well versed in. talk to me about why the gamecube was the greatest console ever created some time.
stealing a candy bar isn't the same thing as stealing a gold bar. Yes I agree with this. but stealing a Candy Bar is still wrong. Should you be in federal pen no? but is it wrong to force someone to pay a $20 fine? I say no.
The point is they are not the same, and it's not a trivial difference, yet people who copy are being charged / threatened to be charged with the same crimes as an organized mafia run bootleg syndicate.
I'm not trying to trivialize this matter but I do think it IS that simple. You guys just seem to think i'm on the other side. In this case yes the mom/pop and the bootleg syndicate are guilty of the same crime. but clearly they're in different realms of severity. There's no way that mom/pop should be charged with the same punishment that the syndicate leader has to endure, but technically Mom/Pop are guilty of a crime.
I think a drug analogy works here. Smoking weed is illegal. If you become the local weedman you're breaking the law. If I'm a drug kingpin I'm also guilty of breaking the same law (and more) just because I'm more guilty and deserve a greater punishment doesn't mean what you do is ok. maybe you only deserve a fine and comm service where as i get locked up for life but we're both guilty of illegal acts.
As for my personal life. I'm no Saint. I'm a nice guy sure but not everything I've done is legal. To be honest thought I couldn't think of any examples until I remember this was a game site. so yes I'll admit I have in the past pirated games and I'm not saying I won't in the future I won't even attempt to explain or justify that statement unless you ask (but I am lazy and I do like to own my games so it's unlikely) but I never claimed to be a the last BoyScout and I still maintain my stance. I just think everyone is misunderstanding what I'm trying to say.