Copyright infringement is not theft.
This graphic should explain it for you:
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Unless you're stealing the physical media upon which the only copy of a piece of software resides, "pirating" software isn't theft.
And the difference to the company that should have been paid for the software is?
Piracy and theft are both despicable acts - one is not "better" than the other.
Check the dictionary definition of "steal":
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/steal
2. to appropriate (ideas, credit, words, etc.) without right or acknowledgment.
2. To present or use (someone else's words or ideas) as one's own.
1. take without the owner's consent; "Someone stole my wallet on the train"; "This author stole entire paragraphs from my dissertation"
(page has citations from several dictionaries)
Note these references to ideas and words - the word steal does not exclusively refer to taking a physical object.
I'll continue to use the word "steal" - although I acknowledge that a lawyer in court would not use that word in the context of illegal downloading.
Lots of terms have special meaning in the law that differs from common usage. For example, try to imagine what "suspect class" means, then Yahoo! for the phrase. Doesn't mean what you thought, does it? (hint:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suspect_class)
Let's not debate which term to use, using the torrent to avoid paying for software (or music or videos) is wrong.
Let's just enjoy the schadenfreude that some of the scoundrels who stole Iworks are suffering !
😎
I do think that piracy isn't such a bad thing. Take me for example. I would never pay more than 10$ for any software, so if I find a way of getting if free its ok.
I hope that to be morally consistent, that you also stole your MacBook and other Apple gadgets.
By the way, you should be more careful about using your name when posting about illegal or unethical activities. A quick web search for "Dirk Breeuwer" shows lots of posts about hacking, jailbreaking, and other questionable feats. Your picture is OK though:
http://www.metroflog.com/diozez/200712