DizzyOct 6, 2023
Hey look, it's time for another one of my "I'm just curious about general fedi opinions on something" polls, except this time it's not about Linux. This one's about piracy!

As always, please boost for reach.

#piracy #ethics #morality #Yarr #Harr #Fiddle #de #Dee
Piracy is moral, end of discussion.
19%
Piracy is moral if it's from a large, faceless corporation.
33.3%
Piracy is moral if you intend to pay eventually if you enjoy the thing in question.
0%
Piracy is moral if the original creators are no longer receiving money for their work.
19%
Piracy is moral in another case not listed here.
14.3%
Piracy is immoral, end of discussion.
0%
My opinion is more complex than this and I intend to state it in the replies.
9.5%
I don't have an opinion, or don't want to give mine, just show me the results.
4.8%
Poll ended at .
Dizzy Has No Solutions

Show threadgigaherzOct 6, 2023

@dizzy Since I voted "My opinion is more complex":

First of all, I don't agree with the use of the term "piracy" when applied to duplication of digital information without permission of the owner. I know it's common now, but I still don't like it.

With that out of the way: I don't believe copyright infringement is moral, or immoral, per se. I believe digital information itself doesn't have a value beyond the cost of storage and distribution, but... (continues)

Show threadgigaherz
@dizzy but, the thing that the information represents can be a work produced by people's efforts over months or years, so I think there's a somewhat moral requirement to make sure that people are appropriately compensated for the usefulness or entertainment you obtained through the use of the work (be it software, or art). However, other cases are such that the people benefitting from the copyright, are not the ones who put in the effort, and in that case, I don't feel any moral obligation.
Oct 6, 2023 at 9:16pmWeb
Show threadDizzyOct 6, 2023
@gigaherz So it sounds like, despite your opinion being complex, you do mostly agree with point 4 and maybe point 2?
Show threadDizzyOct 6, 2023
@gigaherz (Point 2 because often large corporations, even if they *are* compensating the original creators, are often just giving them a nigh-meaningless pittance that isn't meaningfully affected by whether or not the thing is actually selling)
Show threadgigaherzOct 6, 2023
@dizzy Leans heavily toward 4, yes. But in a gradient. I will never pirate an indie game. And eg. I just bought Assassin's Creed Mirage, because as much as I don't like Ubisoft as a company, they do have game developers that have made a game I think I will enjoy greatly, and I want their bosses to let them continue making games like that.
Show threadDizzyOct 6, 2023
@gigaherz I've admittedly pirated indie games a few times, but they fall into "using piracy as an effective demo" for me, so a bit of #3.

If I wasn't perpetually poor, I probably wouldn't even do that, tbf.
Show threadDizzyOct 6, 2023
@gigaherz I can't think of many indie games I've pirated that I didn't eventually buy.