Just a small note:
A recent court ruling allows publishers to sue both copyright infringers and the makers of software who deliberately condone copyright infringement.
Some exerpts: http://www.newsobserver.com/24hour/technology/story/2514744p-10883045c.html
But NOTE: The language used is consistent by the court: copyright infringement. The court knows what it is saying. Nowhere does the ruling mention "stealing", "theft", or "piracy".
Yet just look at the news articles covering the event, example: http://www.newsobserver.com/24hour/technology/story/2514744p-10881652c.html
Why is this a problem? It is like calling someone who steals a "murderer". Or someone who reads adult literature a "rapist". The moral category is so vastly different that there is no real correlation.
Please stop calling copyright-infringement "piracy" and "theft".
ObGame: Working on two new designs, including one for the SiegeStone contest.
Yehuda
3 comments:
On Spielfrieks today, someone suggested copyright infringment was legal unless you are specifically sued.
So, while I appreciate your point - I think it is important to keep in mind that it is illegal to infringe copyright.
I never said it wasn't illegal. Copyright infirngement is illegal. But it is not related, either legally or ethically, to stealing. That is my only point.
Basically, copying is a natural right, unlike stealing. Government proscribes the right to provide incentive to publish. So copyright infringement is a violation of an artificial government control, not unlike buying Cuban cigars.
Yehuda
Fair enough. As long as you aren't saying 'its not stealing, so its legal / OK' - which is an argument I come across often.
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