> no harm was done to CERN Yes it was. CERN's negotiated contracts were broken, triggering a 30K damage award. Just because it's "on paper" doesn't mean the da

> no harm was done to CERN Yes it was. CERN's negotiated contracts were broken, triggering a 30K damage award. Just because it's "on paper" doesn't mean the damage isn't real. He could have done the same kind of damage if he had sexually harassed an underling.[1] I can say with very high confidence that "don't pirate software" is a key part of orientation at CERN, the same way as at most large companies. The student might not have known about the specifics of the contract (and he shouldn't pay the 30K), but it's not the company's responsibility to tell each and every idiot "here is why you obey our policies." It's the company's responsibility to tell each idiot "these rules are important to obey." [1] of course the student likely didn't have any reports