> but you are not allowed to spend that time you had for viewing it to make a copy of it and show it to some other people that did not pay the original author

> but you are not allowed to spend that time you had for viewing it to make a copy of it and show it to some other people that did not pay the original author I clearly said that making an unlicensed copy and distributing it infringes copyright so we agree. > You only have the right to view something if someone who created that wants you to view it. Here we disagree, copyright does not prevent many things like borrowing a friends book or downloading a movie. Do you have any sources where someone was prosecuted for unlicensed viewing or downloading - this would substantiate your argument. Uploading and sharing is what copyright prevents, not downloading. > how is that not a theft? It is not theft, theft means depriving someone of something actual - copyright infringement is against the law but no-one is charged with theft for it. Damages are awarded against uploaders but potential income and stolen money are not equivalent. Copyright is a time limited monopoly, possesion is not - trying to conflate copying with theft does not further the discussion, it only muddies the discourse.