4 ms·

It is not OK. You are not entitled to anything because you can't pay for it. If you can't afford it, you do what you can to afford it or look for alternatives t

It is not OK. You are not entitled to anything because you can't pay for it. If you can't afford it, you do what you can to afford it or look for alternatives that are more affordable. Don't steal - especially don't steal the tools of your trade.

cryptoz 16y ago
I agree with you, but don't use the word "steal" here. It means something completely different and is incorrect in this usage. The proper term here is more "intellectual property rights infringement" or something like that. Since pirating Photoshop does not remove the original copy, it is not theft or "stealing". The crime may be just as bad, or worse perhaps, but it's not "stealing".
- davidsiems 16y ago
  http://lesswrong.com/lw/np/disputing_definitions http://lesswrong.com/lw/np/disputing_definitions
  - Qz 16y ago
    While I agree 100% with the premise (arguing over definitions is dumb), that article gave me a headache. Get to the damn point already.
- icegreentea 16y ago
  Well, on the other hand when the phrase "stole my idea" is used in common usage, it's widely understood that your idea is retained, just someone else took it. You are correct, legally it is not theft. But we've been using the word in a way that is not legally strict for a quite a while.
  - roc 16y ago
    And 'we' would be and have been wrong to say 'stole my idea' as well. We, of all people, should appreciate and insist on the distinction.
    - thasmin 16y ago
      May I suggest, "If they stole your idea, how do you know you ever had it?"
- thibaut_barrere 16y ago
  For me piracy is the virtual equivalent of stealing, really, even if you can pick different words. Just because there the original copy remains doesn't mean it isn't theft. Depending on which country you live in, it can be considered theft or not, I believe.
- rick888 16y ago
  "The crime may be just as bad, or worse perhaps, but it's not "stealing"." Is identity theft stealing? You are merely borrowing someone's information. The original information is never gone, only copied. I also don't know what you are getting at. It seems most people insist it's not stealing to make it seem like it's alright.
- tzs 16y ago
  If you are talking about what a lawyer should say when writing up a complaint to file a law suit, you are correct. However, generally when we speak here, we are speaking English, not Legalese, and "steal" is acceptable. The theoretical justification for IP law from an economic point of view is to correct the inability of the free market to efficiently allocate resources for the production of IP. The free market fails in this because IP is not appropriable and not indivisible. The IP law solution is to give, by force of law, those attributes to IP, making them behave legally like physical goods.
protomyth 16y ago
I have always believed the phrase "the end justifies the means" is the truest definition of evil. If one expects good things, one shouldn't start with doing harm to others. I really believe a start like this sets the tone for decisions made later and will come to no good. // yes, I know, on the scale of things this ranks a lot lower than the monetary fine / years in jail would seem to indicate

cryptoz 16y ago

I agree with you, but don't use the word "steal" here. It means something completely different and is incorrect in this usage. The proper term here is more "intellectual property rights infringement" or something like that. Since pirating Photoshop does not remove the original copy, it is not theft or "stealing". The crime may be just as bad, or worse perhaps, but it's not "stealing".

davidsiems 16y ago
http://lesswrong.com/lw/np/disputing_definitions http://lesswrong.com/lw/np/disputing_definitions
- Qz 16y ago
  While I agree 100% with the premise (arguing over definitions is dumb), that article gave me a headache. Get to the damn point already.
icegreentea 16y ago
Well, on the other hand when the phrase "stole my idea" is used in common usage, it's widely understood that your idea is retained, just someone else took it. You are correct, legally it is not theft. But we've been using the word in a way that is not legally strict for a quite a while.
- roc 16y ago
  And 'we' would be and have been wrong to say 'stole my idea' as well. We, of all people, should appreciate and insist on the distinction.
  - thasmin 16y ago
    May I suggest, "If they stole your idea, how do you know you ever had it?"
thibaut_barrere 16y ago
For me piracy is the virtual equivalent of stealing, really, even if you can pick different words. Just because there the original copy remains doesn't mean it isn't theft. Depending on which country you live in, it can be considered theft or not, I believe.
rick888 16y ago
"The crime may be just as bad, or worse perhaps, but it's not "stealing"." Is identity theft stealing? You are merely borrowing someone's information. The original information is never gone, only copied. I also don't know what you are getting at. It seems most people insist it's not stealing to make it seem like it's alright.
tzs 16y ago
If you are talking about what a lawyer should say when writing up a complaint to file a law suit, you are correct. However, generally when we speak here, we are speaking English, not Legalese, and "steal" is acceptable. The theoretical justification for IP law from an economic point of view is to correct the inability of the free market to efficiently allocate resources for the production of IP. The free market fails in this because IP is not appropriable and not indivisible. The IP law solution is to give, by force of law, those attributes to IP, making them behave legally like physical goods.

protomyth 16y ago

I have always believed the phrase "the end justifies the means" is the truest definition of evil. If one expects good things, one shouldn't start with doing harm to others. I really believe a start like this sets the tone for decisions made later and will come to no good. // yes, I know, on the scale of things this ranks a lot lower than the monetary fine / years in jail would seem to indicate