Pluralistic: “If buying isn’t owning, piracy isn’t stealing” (08 Dec 2023) – Pluralistic: Daily links from Cory Doctorow
pluralistic.net

The ability to change features, prices, and availability of things you’ve already paid for is a powerful temptation to corporations.

  • vsh@lemm.eeEnglish
    218·
    11 months ago

    Taking a product from the shop without paying and returning the item later is still stealing.

    There was a story on Reddit where man stole a few grands of $ in products over a few years at his local grocery shop, and one day when he wanted to return what he stole he was arrested on site.

    • CileTheSane@lemmy.caEnglish
      261·
      11 months ago

      Taking a product from the shop without paying and returning the item later is still stealing.

      The issue here is that there is a period of time where the shop does not have the item.

      • poopkins@lemmy.worldEnglish
        11·
        11 months ago

        If you are trying to make an analogy to digital copies, this still doesn’t hold water. The copyright holder does not have ownership of your copy.

        • CileTheSane@lemmy.caEnglish
          2·
          11 months ago

          The copyright holder should never have ownership of my copy. If I purchase it it should be mine to use. The shop should not be allowed to come to my house and take it away.

          • poopkins@lemmy.worldEnglish
            0·
            11 months ago

            The key difference here is that you only own the copy when the copyright holder sells it to you. I don’t know if you’re being obtuse, but this shouldn’t be a difficult concept to grasp. If it helps in understanding, try replacing “copy” with “product” and “copyright holder” with “store.”

            • CileTheSane@lemmy.caEnglish
              1·
              11 months ago

              The key difference here is that you only own the copy when the copyright holder sells it to you

              Right, I should own my copy. I have purchased this copy and it’s mine now. It’s bullshit for a store to say “now that we no longer sell the thing your purchased previously you’re not allowed to own it anymore.”

              • poopkins@lemmy.worldEnglish
                0·
                11 months ago

                Ownership is one condition that a copyright holder might offer, but that’s not guaranteed. Video rental shops would allow unlimited consumption for a limited time period, for example. We can argue all day about the differences and what consumers want versus the conditions under which content producers currently operate. I am personally also extremely frustrated by that, and I vote with my wallet: I do not subscribe to services that I find too restrictive or too expensive.

                Where I am in the minority, however, is my position that copyright infringement is illegal, unethical and can in any way be legitimized.