Do you feel guilty about downloading OwB?

[TheBang]

Originally Posted by BrotherLovesDub

holden, the laws about buying and selling promos are black and white. it is illegal for shops to sell promos. it says so on the promo sticker. that copy belongs to the record label. the scenario is no different. both ways you're illegally obtaining the album before it's released to your region. these laws aren't enforced, but it's still illegal. it's just what laws you choose to follow.

Actually, property law and First Sale doctrine pretty much trump those little stamps the record companies put on the promos. Well, it's currently being tested in litigation, but I think the EFF's arguments will win.

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post...rap-eulas.html

Originally Posted by geoff

Let's be honest, there is definitely a 4th category of people who pirate instead of buying, flat out. I have friends who even pirate from their favorite bands.

But the "try and buy" people do somewhat make up for that.

To some small extent, but I think in reality, losses due to the flat-out pirates far outweighs any benefit gained from the "try and buyers".

Originally Posted by big screen satellite

those who download, because they want to hear the album because its free, but would never have bought it in the first place - not actually a loss in sales...

Originally Posted by geoff

Obviously, the "never would have bought in the first place" . . . people don't tip the scales either way.

Actually, I have a problem with the people in this category. The ones who say "Well, this album I downloaded is not a lost sale since I never would have bought it in the first place," or "Downloading Photoshop isn't stealing, because I never could have afforded to buy it anyway." I find those rationales to be extremely disingenuous. The reason being is that these people are deriving enjoyment and utility from what they downloaded. Just because they would never have plunked down the money for it, doesn't mean they can suddenly enjoy the benefits of the works. That's just wrong.