This is a good point and worthy some thought. Let's say that Congress passes another extension of copyright the day before a certain work is to enter the public

This is a good point and worthy some thought. Let's say that Congress passes another extension of copyright the day before a certain work is to enter the public domain. Is it then unethical to pirate it the next day? What if it didn't pass? Is it unethical to make use of the work the next day without paying the owners of the IP? Why? What's the true difference? If this line of reasoning makes sense, then when is it unethical to pirate works? Until the copyright goes out? Until the original authors die? Until the original authors' heirs die? Until 14 + 14 years have passed (original extended copyright length)? Or is it when the IP is owned by individuals and not corporations? Maybe ethics here just is a bit too complicated and it's pointless to bring it into the discussion?