The ability to change features, prices, and availability of things you’ve already paid for is a powerful temptation to corporations.

  • gapbetweenus@feddit.de
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    183
    arrow-down
    7
    ·
    10 months ago

    One of the great modern scams, was to convince society that unauthorized copying of data is somehow equivalent to taking away a physical object.

    • Coasting0942@reddthat.com
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      70
      arrow-down
      2
      ·
      10 months ago

      Jesus didn’t ask for permission to copy bread and fish. It’s a clear moral precedent that if you can copy you should.

      What would the Jesus do?

      Checkmate Atheists!

    • helenslunch@feddit.nl
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      11
      arrow-down
      56
      ·
      10 months ago

      Literally no one thinks that. But you know that already, don’t you?

      It’s theft of intellectual property…

        • helenslunch@feddit.nl
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          20
          arrow-down
          10
          ·
          10 months ago

          Once again with the strawman.

          Intellectual property is not a thought that you own. It’s an idea or digital creation. Something that actually takes time to make, often a whole lot of time. Something you never would have dedicated as much time to if you couldn’t be compensated for it.

          I love how you guys play these mental gymnastics to justify this shit to yourselves.

          • gapbetweenus@feddit.de
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            14
            arrow-down
            4
            ·
            10 months ago

            You seem to not understand what the word own means and the difference between material and not material goods.

              • gapbetweenus@feddit.de
                link
                fedilink
                English
                arrow-up
                13
                arrow-down
                4
                ·
                10 months ago

                I have a thing and than someone takes it away, so I can’t use it anymore. If somebody copies that thing - it’s not really theft.

                My point is more - concepts from physical world don’t nessessary apply to digital world.

                • ParsnipWitch@feddit.de
                  link
                  fedilink
                  English
                  arrow-up
                  4
                  arrow-down
                  2
                  ·
                  10 months ago

                  It just seems that what you are saying is that people shouldn’t be paid if their work doesn’t create something physical.

                  • gapbetweenus@feddit.de
                    link
                    fedilink
                    English
                    arrow-up
                    2
                    arrow-down
                    2
                    ·
                    10 months ago

                    Nope, that’s not what I’m saying. I just make a difference between copying, stealing, physical goods, digital goods and immaterial things. They are not the same.

                    Easy examples: original and copy does not really apply to digital works or two people on opposite sides of world can have the same thought but not have the same physical object at the same time, etc.

                • helenslunch@feddit.nl
                  link
                  fedilink
                  English
                  arrow-up
                  11
                  arrow-down
                  13
                  ·
                  edit-2
                  10 months ago

                  If somebody copies that thing - it’s not really theft.

                  Yes, it absolutely is, by any standard. Ask the dictionary, ask the law, ask literally any authority on literacy and they all come up with the same verdict.

                  You’re just lying to yourself to justify doing whatever you want.

                  If you want to argue when piracy is and is not ethical, that is a different discussion we can have, and we’d likely largely agree. But saying that anything that is digital doesn’t belong to anyone is pure nonsense.

                  • TootGuitar@reddthat.com
                    link
                    fedilink
                    English
                    arrow-up
                    5
                    arrow-down
                    2
                    ·
                    edit-2
                    10 months ago

                    You say “ask the dictionary” — multiple dictionary definitions as well as Wikipedia say that theft requires the intent to deprive the original owner of the property in question, which obviously doesn’t apply to copyright infringement of digital works.

                    You say “ask the law” — copyright infringement is not stealing, they are literally two completely different statutes, at least in the US.

                    So, what the hell are you talking about? Copyright infringement is not theft.

          • lolcatnip@reddthat.com
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            7
            arrow-down
            4
            ·
            10 months ago

            I love how you guys play these mental gymnastics to justify this shit to yourselves.

            I love how you bootlickers always deny that anyone could possibly have a principled objection to modern intellectual property laws. I don’t need to “justify” at all. I rarely even pirate anything, but I don’t believe I’m doing anything wrong when I do.

            • helenslunch@feddit.nl
              link
              fedilink
              English
              arrow-up
              4
              arrow-down
              8
              ·
              10 months ago

              I love how you bootlickers always deny that anyone could possibly have a principled objection to modern intellectual property laws.

              Wow look that’s 3 strawman in a row, you guys are exceptional at fabricating fictional arguments to tear down.

              • LemmysMum@lemmy.world
                link
                fedilink
                English
                arrow-up
                8
                arrow-down
                2
                ·
                10 months ago

                If you’re going to use that word you should at least know what it means so you don’t sound stupid.

          • aylex@lemm.ee
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            1
            arrow-down
            1
            ·
            10 months ago

            “Something you never would have dedicated as much time to if you couldn’t be compensated for it.”

            Just telling on yourself 😂

      • lolcatnip@reddthat.com
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        7
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        10 months ago

        If no one thinks that, why are you saying it right now?

        Actual theft of intellectual property would involve somehow tricking the world into thinking you hold the copyright to something that someone else owns.

        • helenslunch@feddit.nl
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          4
          arrow-down
          7
          ·
          10 months ago

          If no one thinks that, why are you saying it right now?

          …huh?

          Actual theft of intellectual property would involve somehow tricking the world into thinking you hold the copyright to something that someone else owns.

          …no? What are you talking about? All it involves is illegally copying someone else’s work.

      • psud@aussie.zone
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        6
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        10 months ago

        Nah, if I stole their IP, they wouldn’t have it anymore

    • ParsnipWitch@feddit.de
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      8
      arrow-down
      62
      ·
      10 months ago

      So you also believe people shouldn’t need a ticket for a concert, for example?

      • Cypher@aussie.zone
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        69
        arrow-down
        5
        ·
        edit-2
        10 months ago

        The performers time is not infinitely reproducible so your argument is apples to oranges.

        • ominouslemon@lemm.ee
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          9
          arrow-down
          4
          ·
          10 months ago

          But the time to create a novel, a videogame, or a news story is not infinitely reproducible, either. So when you are pirsting one of those things, you are actively reaping the benefits of someone’s time for free, like going to a concert without a ticket

          • Chobbes@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            4
            ·
            10 months ago

            Yeah, this is the real issue. That said it is a shame and a waste for the results of these efforts to be artificially restricted. I do really hope that one day we can find a way to keep people fed and happy while fully utilizing the incredible technology we have for copying and redistributing data.

            • ominouslemon@lemm.ee
              link
              fedilink
              English
              arrow-up
              3
              ·
              10 months ago

              I mean, we’ve kinda already found a way, and it’s ads. Now it’s obvious that the ad market as a whole is horrible (it’s manipulative, it has turned into spying, it does not work really well, it’s been controlled by just a handful of companies etc), but at least it’s democratic in that it allows broader access to culture to everyone while still paying the creators.

              Personally, I would not be against ads, if they were not tracking me. As of now, though, the situation seems fucked up and a new model is probably necessary. It’s just that, until now, every other solution is worse for creators.

          • Venia Silente@lemm.ee
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            7
            arrow-down
            3
            ·
            10 months ago

            There’s a difference between the performer’s time to create not being infinitely reproducible, and an user’s time to use the product being or not infinitely reproducible. Whether I’m pirating or buying a TV show, the actors were already compensated for their time and use for the show; my payment for buying actually goes to the corporate fat: licensors, distributors, etc.

            Whereas when pay a ticket into a live concert, I’m actually paying for something to be made.

            • helenslunch@feddit.nl
              link
              fedilink
              English
              arrow-up
              8
              arrow-down
              2
              ·
              10 months ago

              Whether I’m pirating or buying a TV show, the actors were already compensated for their time

              And where do you think that money comes from…?

              • CybranM@feddit.nu
                link
                fedilink
                English
                arrow-up
                7
                ·
                10 months ago

                It just magically appears /s Its disingenuous to try and justify piracy on the basis that the performers have already been paid. I don’t agree with studios either of course, customers are being scammed

              • Venia Silente@lemm.ee
                link
                fedilink
                English
                arrow-up
                1
                arrow-down
                1
                ·
                10 months ago

                From the investors who are paying the cheques of course. They are corporations, they can afford to spend some coins on [checks notes] living wages.

                • helenslunch@feddit.nl
                  link
                  fedilink
                  English
                  arrow-up
                  1
                  arrow-down
                  1
                  ·
                  10 months ago

                  That’s exactly it. Investors. They are not donations. They expect a return on their investments.

                  • Venia Silente@lemm.ee
                    link
                    fedilink
                    English
                    arrow-up
                    1
                    arrow-down
                    1
                    ·
                    10 months ago

                    And such “return” comes after the work, not before. So there’s no reason to condition the wages to do the work, on the potential that the work might be sold or not and to what amount of people. Now that would be air-quotes “stealing”!

            • ominouslemon@lemm.ee
              link
              fedilink
              English
              arrow-up
              4
              ·
              10 months ago

              This only applies to cases where the artist/actor/whatever gets paid upfront. Most of the times, that does not happen. The creator of something only gets money when somebody buys what they have created (books, videogames, music, etc)

              • Katana314@lemmy.world
                link
                fedilink
                English
                arrow-up
                2
                ·
                10 months ago

                Even if they were paid upfront, they were paid off the idea that the company could make bank on their (ready yourself for the word in case it triggers): Intellectual Property.

                In a future world where people have achieved their wish and the concept no longer exists, companies have no reason to pay creators ahead of time.

              • Venia Silente@lemm.ee
                link
                fedilink
                English
                arrow-up
                1
                ·
                10 months ago

                I can get that they’d not necessarily be paid upfront, but there is no possible legal contract in which they are to be paid only in the future, in causality, according to the performance of a ~~third~ ~ fourth party who is not in the contract. What, are the actors paying their weekly groceries with IOUs?

                • ominouslemon@lemm.ee
                  link
                  fedilink
                  English
                  arrow-up
                  1
                  ·
                  10 months ago

                  Every artist in every field get MAYBE paid a tiny bit upfront, and then a percentage of the sales. That’s how books and music work, for instance

      • gapbetweenus@feddit.de
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        10
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        10 months ago

        I don’t see anything wrong with paying for software or music or digital media. I don’t think that not doing so is theft - like I also don’t think that getting into a concert without paying is theft. By the way a concert is also not digital data, at least an irl one.

        • SCB@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          11
          arrow-down
          4
          ·
          10 months ago

          A library card is your ticket there and libraries are paid via taxes, which is why they’re free at point of use.

          Attending a free concert is not stealing. Breaking into the Eras tour is.

          • snooggums@kbin.social
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            12
            arrow-down
            3
            ·
            10 months ago

            The library buys once and allows multiple people to read/watch each item without each person needing to individually purchase. Just like one person buying something and sharing it with others.

            The main point is that digitization distribution is not a concert

            • SCB@lemmy.world
              link
              fedilink
              English
              arrow-up
              4
              arrow-down
              7
              ·
              10 months ago

              Digital distribution is a service. You can steal a service.

              If you fuck a prostitute and then don’t pay them, you are stealing from them.

              • snooggums@kbin.social
                link
                fedilink
                arrow-up
                5
                arrow-down
                1
                ·
                10 months ago

                If the prostitute uses a technique, and then you use the same technique without paying hem for reuse, is that stealing or does their direct involvement matter?

                • sdoorex@slrpnk.net
                  link
                  fedilink
                  English
                  arrow-up
                  3
                  arrow-down
                  3
                  ·
                  10 months ago

                  If you’re going to retype the code of a program from scratch, then your analogy is valid. If instead you are taking the production created through someone else’s labor without compensating them, then you are stealing from them.

                • SCB@lemmy.world
                  link
                  fedilink
                  English
                  arrow-up
                  2
                  arrow-down
                  5
                  ·
                  edit-2
                  10 months ago

                  Prostitutes don’t become prostitutes because they know secret techniques.

                  The metaphor is describing the service provided, and that not paying for said service is indeed stealing.

                  Trying to make it a different metaphor requires a new framework from you, because you copying their actual service would be you pimping them, under this metaphor.

                  • snooggums@kbin.social
                    link
                    fedilink
                    arrow-up
                    5
                    arrow-down
                    2
                    ·
                    10 months ago

                    Someone sharing content on a peer to peer distribution network is not using the digital distribution service of whoever sold the content. They are not ‘stealing’ HBOs bandwidth to share Game of Thrones.

                    They are sharing a thing that they initially paid for from HBO at no cost to others, similar to letting your friends watch it with you on your TV at the same time. The only difference is scale.

              • psud@aussie.zone
                link
                fedilink
                English
                arrow-up
                2
                arrow-down
                2
                ·
                10 months ago

                It’s okay I won’t use their digital distribution system to pirate their stuff.

                It’s just like falling to pay a prostitute you never fucked

              • CmdrShepard@lemmy.one
                link
                fedilink
                English
                arrow-up
                1
                arrow-down
                1
                ·
                10 months ago

                You’re not using their distribution service when you pirate something. That’s the whole point.

        • ParsnipWitch@feddit.de
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          2
          arrow-down
          1
          ·
          edit-2
          10 months ago

          Libraries get money via tax. What people here are arguing for is that others should work for them or free. Because game studios, for example, are overwhelmingly not paid via tax money. They are depending on people buying their software. And many software has ongoing costs.

      • CmdrShepard@lemmy.one
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        10 months ago

        Do you think I should be forced to pay for a ticket if I’m standing next to the concert venue on the sidewalk but can still hear the performance?

      • psud@aussie.zone
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        10 months ago

        I have never had a problem with people taking a tape recorder to a concert, even if it’s against terms of service