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Aussie Case Unlikely To Solve Piracy Riddle In Fast Broadband World
An anonymous reader writes "When some of Hollywood's biggest movie and TV studios took Australian ISP iiNet to court in 2008 — accusing it of facilitating piracy — it focused the eyes of the world downunder. Internet users and media companies alike were keen to see if the courts could figure out how to resolve the ongoing battle caused by easy, and essentially illegal, access to copyrighted material. After three and a half years and a number of appeals the high court judgement comes down on Friday, but it already looks like a failed attempt to solve an impossible riddle."
You owe me $5 for going to the trouble of reading your post. I offer several means of payment, which do you prefer?
What's that you say? You don't intend to pay that? You've damaged me sir, you stole from me, that was money I could potentially have and do not! I will see you in court!
Does that sound ridiculous? I sure hope it does. Not giving someone money they could theoretically have had under certain circumstances is not the same as depriving them of property they actually currently possess. The second is theft, the first is not. Copying cannot be theft, because the original owner is not deprived of their property.
At the risk of a car analogy, imagine telling the police your neighbor stole your car, and it's in his garage right now. The officer arrives at your house, asking for a description of the stolen vehicle. You point to the car in your driveway. At this point, the officer looks confused-"Sir, did your neighbor return the car while I was driving over here?" "Well no, it's still in his garage!" "But sir, the car is in your driveway, you just pointed it out to me." "Well this one is, sure, but it's also in his garage! He bought the exact same make, model, color, everything, right down to the same leather seats!"
Sound ridiculous? That's because it is ridiculous. Theft requires that something be -taken away- from the original owner, not just that someone else has something just like it.
To fight the war on terror, stop being afraid.
Wow, every time someone might possibly think you're not completely batshit...you have to open you crazy hole and remove ALL doubts. Tell me is that statue of RMS whispering to you again? is it telling you to kill that scary troll that keeps coming into your room? that's actually your mom and would be bad,mmmkay?
ACs don't waste your time replying, your posts are never seen by me.