Christopher Hitchens interview

[Space Pirate Roberts]

Okay, I get it, you want to argue the societal implications while I was pretty clearly just talking about the individual level. Okay then...

One digital copy of a book can replace all the copies in all the libraries and all the bookstores in the world. Read that again: One digital copy of a book can replace all the copies in all the libraries and all the bookstores in the world.

You say that like it would be a bad thing. Far, far less wasted space and paper FT biggest W ever.

On the other hand, if we are advocating piracy, then let's think of what you would do when Harry Potter came out then. Just like before, the library will be out of copies, so you would just obtain it illegally by digital means. It's worse than going to the local bookstore and stuffing it under your jacket, because if you did that, at least there's a chance the bookstore would order another copy to replace it.

Um, WOW. IP violation worse than real, physical theft? This must be Bizarro World.

Piracy only denies the copyright holder of incoming revenue they law says they're entitled to. Real theft involves taking a payed-for asset from the store, forcing them pay again to replace it or else simply lose the money they spent on the first copy. I guess it's better from the perspective of the copyright holder, though, since they're essentially getting paid twice for the same purchase at the store.

This is what I hate the most about our generation: the way we try to justify our selfish actions instead of being honest with ourselves. If you are a common thief, don't try to paint yourself as some righteous revolutionary or otherwise use some flawed logic to make yourself feel better. I stole when I was a kid, I have stolen as an adult - I call it stealing, not borrowing or turnabout or any such nonsense. Now that I have a more mature outlook, I buy the things I want when I can find them and afford them, and I forgo or defer purchase of the rest. Christopher Hitchens does not owe me a copy of his book and I do not have any reason to steal from him.

So I guess you don't even entertain the possibility that there are those who honestly see nothing morally wrong with piracy, as they consider current copyright law utterly invalid and the courts in gross dereliction of duty for failing to strike it down? It's not supposed to be about protecting a creator/rights-holder's right to compensation - or even acknowledge the existence of any such right - it's supposed to foster creation by enabling them to receive compensation for a limited time. In the end, all creative works belong to all mankind.

Irony: I don't actually pirate... because I'm too lazy to get the software running. I simply have no problem with it and hate seeing people be all holier-than-thou about it.

[Nick]

If I wrote a book and I had a choice between having thousands of copies sold to libraries and then distributed for free or having one copy sold to a hacker and distributed for free . . . well, why don't I let you guess which I'd prefer? Add to that the fact that the person creating the initial torrent doesn't even have to buy his copy, and the choice is shockingly clear. So, yeah, replacing all the hard copies with illegally produced and distributed digital copies would be a bad thing. A legal system that kicks back money to the author for every reproduction for a certain period of time would be the best of both worlds.

As for the moral implications of piracy, don't obfuscate the issue. There are legal definitions of the word "theft" and there are clearly defined copyright laws. You are entitled to feel they are unfair. That does not give you a moral justification to steal Christopher Hitchens book. Go enjoy works whose copyrights have expired and are now in the public domain and stop acting (not you in particular, LordPerrin) like downloading free South Park episodes makes you some kind of fighter for justice. You (again, not you, Perrin) are just a kid that feels entitled to free entertainment.

[Space Pirate Roberts]

A legal system that kicks back money to the author for every reproduction for a certain period of time would be the best of both worlds.

Right, the way you worded it above made it sound like you were opposed to digital copies replacing print copies in and of itself, irrespective of the legality issue. Way I see it, the day the last press stops running will be a day for celebration.

[Nick]

You weren't reading my post right. I was setting up an argument and that was my first premise. The conclusion was the piracy is far different from checking out a book from a library and punishes the author indiscriminately. Hell, I can read a book on the screen just as easily as I can in printed form. I'd prefer my morning paper on a handheld reader.

[The_Meach]

So I guess you don't even entertain the possibility that there are those who honestly see nothing morally wrong with piracy, as they consider current copyright law utterly invalid and the courts in gross dereliction of duty for failing to strike it down? It's not supposed to be about protecting a creator/rights-holder's right to compensation - or even acknowledge the existence of any such right - it's supposed to foster creation by enabling them to receive compensation for a limited time. In the end, all creative works belong to all mankind.

It's morally wrong to choose which laws we will observe and which we will not. If we want a just society, we simply cannot pick and choose which laws we will follow.

[g0zen]

Unless they're shit like diapers on horses or outlawing fellatio.

[Space Pirate Roberts]

...oh for the love of God. I really hate pulling this card, because of course FUBAR copyright law isn't on remotely the same level, but... Rosa Parks. The overturning of an unjust law ALWAYS starts with someone breaking it. (Too bad the vast majority of pirates are just as Nick describes them and shit their pants instead of stick to their guns if they get caught. I don't think a single one of those RIAA v Joe Sixpack cases have gone before the Supreme Court.)

I'd call getting your morality from the government just as bad as getting it from some book of ancient fairytales.

[The_Meach]

Much better to just pick and choose, right?

[bbobb]

So I guess you don't even entertain the possibility that there are those who honestly see nothing morally wrong with piracy, as they consider current copyright law utterly invalid and the courts in gross dereliction of duty for failing to strike it down?

You can argue that with the music industry, but with books?

[The_Meach]

Hitch v. Al Sharpton. Note the intro music. lol