Hee hee.

> > > "Online theft" (as you call it) is not comparable to physical burglary, despite what Metallica would like you to believe.

Intellectual property can (and does) translate directly into food on the table as well as free time to work on fun projects. Reducing somebody's ability to earn income from their work is equivalent to taking their cash or their time. As an author, you probably wouldn't miss the $0.50 from one particular sale. But as you said, it isn't a tangible stereo, it's intangible data; the value depends entirely on what people are willing to pay for it.

If there is an attitude that your work is not respected, including your wishes for how it's shared, the existing trust (that you the author will be able to continue making a living as an author; that others will not copy your work and call it their own) will go out the window.

These ideas are bastardized from The Cathedral and the Bazaar which you can (and should) read at the above link. This part is particularly relevant to the discussion of trust among programmers.

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-DA