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[hops]

Is there any part of American society that isn't designed to make profit by robbing poorer people?

Filesharing. It's the one ray of light in an otherwise bleak world. The only part of society not based on robbing people.

Technically it's robbing the people who developed the files. vov

[Graknorke]

Technically it's robbing the people who developed the files. vov

1Take property unlawfully from (a person or place) by force or threat of force:

File sharing is clearly not the thing I thought it was.

[Descan]

Filesharing is only robbery (in a loose sense) if it gives the file to someone who would otherwise purchase it. But when you factor in that there are least four other reasons besides "getting the game *instead* of purchasing it" for someone to pirate, namely a) testing the game in an era where demos are few and far between, b) getting around DRM and such for a game that one has already purchased, c) done by someone who wouldn't or couldn't spend the money to purchase it if the pirate option wasn't available, and d) being able to play the game while one saves up enough money to purchase it legitimately, and when you factor in that it doesn't actually *take* anything, just buds a copy off, and that there is no actual violence involved, you can't really even tell if your work is being pirated unless you actively look for it... Well, it's kind of hard to make a case for robbery backed up by facts, when actual numbers of who, why, and how often people pirate are few and far between.

The only actual number I've ever seen for piracy have been published/funded by like, Hollywood or the games industry, who have a vested interest in making it seem like it's killing the industry. Bias.

[Bohandas]

No, it's never robbery, because to be robbery you would have to take away something that somebody else already had. Interfering wih commerce is NOT theft. If I lied and told people that a business was closed or gave people bad directions to it that would not be theft though I daresay it would reduce their profits.

Hell, even if I got a gun, hung out near the entrence of a store and shot anyone who tried to go in I would have only wronged he people who got shot; the store would have no legitimate complaint against me (provided that it all took place putside of the store)

[Helgoland]

Maybe they wouldn't be able to sue you, but they'd sure as hell have a legitimate reason to complain...

[Graknorke]

Robbery requires the use or threat of force. If filesharing involves that then I've been missing out on something big.

[GiglameshDespair]

Put your hands up and put the data in the bag! I have a gun!

[i2amroy]

Oh don't get started on the robbery vs. burglary vs. theft vs banditry debate.

[4maskwolf]

Robbery requires the use or threat of force. If filesharing involves that then I've been missing out on something big.

But have you considered the angle of

Spoiler: Objective Quote (click to show/hide)

DRY HUMPING????

And what impact that plays into it?

[Graknorke]

Robbery requires the use or threat of force. If filesharing involves that then I've been missing out on something big.

But have you considered the angle of

Spoiler: Objective Quote (click to show/hide)

DRY HUMPING????

And what impact that plays into it?

Well if we cancel out the humping coefficient and consider the effect of the regnlaus function...
Good God. The implications!

Stay here I'm writing to the Nobel Committee.

[SalmonGod]

Filesharing is only robbery (in a loose sense) if it gives the file to someone who would otherwise purchase it. But when you factor in that there are least four other reasons besides "getting the game *instead* of purchasing it" for someone to pirate, namely a) testing the game in an era where demos are few and far between, b) getting around DRM and such for a game that one has already purchased, c) done by someone who wouldn't or couldn't spend the money to purchase it if the pirate option wasn't available, and d) being able to play the game while one saves up enough money to purchase it legitimately, and when you factor in that it doesn't actually *take* anything, just buds a copy off, and that there is no actual violence involved, you can't really even tell if your work is being pirated unless you actively look for it... Well, it's kind of hard to make a case for robbery backed up by facts, when actual numbers of who, why, and how often people pirate are few and far between.

The only actual number I've ever seen for piracy have been published/funded by like, Hollywood or the games industry, who have a vested interest in making it seem like it's killing the industry. Bias.

You forgot about people who pirate in order to gain access to content that is not commercially available where they live.  Piratebay has pointed out that they've been contacted by people from North Korea, for example, who were really greatful for providing them a window to the outside world.

[Bohandas]

Oh don't get started on the robbery vs. burglary vs. theft vs banditry debate.

Personally I'm saying that it's not even theft, because you're not taking anything away from anyone.

Maybe potential profits are reduced, but potential profits are not something that you have or own. We aren't automatically entitled to every good thing that could ever possibly happen to us.

[Orange Wizard]

* Orange Wizard points to a certain clause in the TPPA that allows companies to sue nations if their potential profits are impacted.

[i2amroy]

Looking at the supreme court ruling of Dowling v. The United States it seems like no, it's not legally "theft". What it is, however is "copyright violation" (which can be referred to legally by the word "piracy" if you are using the copying for your own financial gain [which I believe would include downloading to save yourself the money of buying it]).

Note: I'm not saying that I agree with the laws or necessarily support them in this instance, but am just stating the legal side of things. Personally I think we should work on moving to a donations based system for the particular fields of most filetypes. Heck, we're talking about this on a site that is already powered by such a system!

[Bohandas]

* Orange Wizard points to a certain clause in the TPPA that allows companies to sue nations if their potential profits are impacted.

And that's why we'd all be better off if the stuffed suits who signed that thing were dead; their neglected corpses laying half-decayed in the street being spat upon and kicked by passers by