Do you equate file-sharing with stealing?

Question

I know a lot of people who consider file-sharing, copying DVDs, and copying CDs stealing. Do you consider this immoral? Is it something that you or your family would think badly of?

I have some copied DVDs . . . And people tend to react to that for some reason... They don't even ask if I actually own the original copy... They don't ask if I needed to make a backup because it wouldn't work in a region 1 player or something.. (Though it may not be the case either way...)

They just say, "oh, that's a stolen movie?"

Answer 1

It depends on the circumstances. It is legal to make a backup copy of a movie or CD for your own personal use. It become problematic when you start to SELL them, or share the file for free with "ten million of your closest friends". Just because someone has a copy of a movie doesn't mean that its stolen, so if somebody says that to you and they are wrong you should correct them. There's a bit of a "gray" area involved here.

Answer 2

Well, yes. If you have something that you otherwise would have to pay for - be it a digital file or hard copy DVD - then it is stealing.

If you've paid for your copy of a DVD and you're backing it up, that's a different story.

Answer 3

I don't consider it stealing. Everybody does it nowadays but I agree that the studios should receive profit in some way, shape or form. I usually watch movies in the cinemas or buy them on DVD, I can't download simply cause I don't have the bandwidth, but I would only download crap movies if I did. Those no-lifes who spend their whole lives on the computer downloading movies and games illegally are the ones who should be fined for being losers.

Answer 4

if you share files with people who didnt buy them, you deprive the producers of the file the opportunity to sell. so you 'steal' that lost income. some people think its ok but of course the producers don't.