The law has nothing to do with "making a copy" or "leaving the original intact." Wiring into the neighborhood cable-tv network without paying is an example of

The law has nothing to do with "making a copy" or "leaving the original intact." Wiring into the neighborhood cable-tv network without paying is an example of "theft of services", as is sneaking into a movie theater. Making an illegal copy still takes money out of somebody's pocket. Saying that you wouldn't (or couldn't) have bought the product makes no difference-- the demand is still being alleviated, and non-zero.