Piracy and sin

[Nick316]

So lets say there is this PC game I wanted. I had already owned the game twice on CD for another platform, both of which don't work.

Would it be a sin (ie. stealing) if I were to pirate the game to my PC (even if I had the owned the game before?)

-N

 

[BFine]

You know the answer already-- stealing is wrong and pirating is
a crime.

Have you tried to trade the game cd's in at Ebgames
for a discounted/lower price on the PC version of the game you want?

 

[Nick316]

You know the answer already-- stealing is wrong and pirating is
a crime.

Have you tried to trade the game cd's in at Ebgames
for a discounted/lower price on the PC version of the game you want?

So even if I already own the game, it is still wrong?

Alright. I'll try to find someplace to buy it.

 

[BFine]

If you don't mind me asking, what's the name of the game?

 

[Nick316]

If you don't mind me asking, what's the name of the game?

Star Wars Battlefront 1

 

[prmath]

IMHO....... No

 

[BFine]

Amazon.com has it for Star Wars Battlefront 1 for PC
is $6.99 and Star Wars Battlefront 2 for PC is $12.99

 

[gideon123]

would it be a sin to ask the software company what to do?
they can tell you yes or no, right? it's their software.

Gideon

 

[Avniel]

Right now there has been arguments in the courts it is a gray area as far if it is legal considered stealing or not. In my opinion no it is not stealing.

 

[CounselorForChrist]

Well lets define some things. Pirating is technically the act of copying things, then selling them for money. However copying something for yourself thats not your is simply called stealing. Both of which are illegal and a sin.

What your saying I don't see it as a sin depending on how its done. For example I to own Star Wars Battle Front on computer. But some years ago my friend borrowed it and broke the cd "on accident". Well I had another friend who had the game. So I just borrowed his and copied it for myself. Mind you I still had my original CD-KEY. So in that case I don't see it as stealing. After all this is a common practice. Many people back up their movies in case the original copy goes.

If it were illegal there wouldn't be programs that let you legally back up movies, games and so on. Even in the courts (well at the time) they said it can't be illegal to copy something you own (if your using it for personal use). Because if it was then technically copying your favorite song you bought on Itunes to your cell phone, your ipod and your computer would be illegal. And obviously thats not illegal.

However if you never owned the game or sold it...then copied the game (lets say you borrowed it) then you would be stealing. Since you never owned it in the first place. Most people I know keep their copies after they sell the original. By keeping your copy...then it becomes a grey area for the law. If you go to the store and buy a game and copy it, then return the original it is illegal. But thats assuming you bought with intent to copy and return. Hence why laws changed that you can no longer return movies, games...etc once opened.

Speaking of, my copied star wars game also got lost. So I gave up on copying and just bought it on sale from Steam. I try to just buy something that I originally lost or broke. Simply because I don't mind paying for a game I always thought was good. Means more money to the makers of it so they can make more sequels!

I should mention on a side note that the star wars battlefront games have become a VERY hard to find series. What few versions left to buy cost around $100 on Ebay.

 

[Peripatetic]

These questions can be looked at in a few different ways:

1. Legal - Does it break a law or the terms of service?
2. Ethical - Do the circumstances make a difference?
3. Moral - Does it bring about conviction from the Holy Spirit?

I usually tend to lean towards avoiding the action if any of the above make me uncomfortable.

 

[TheDag]

Legally speaking yes it is illegal. Morally I would say no it isn't. I had a cd which got stolen when the house was broken into. I had no problems getting a copy from someone else who I knew had the music because it is impossible to buy now. I later was shown where that artist has said people should put his music on the web to be downloaded because it can't be purchased anymore. So feel free to download Steve Taylor songs!

Rightly or wrong I have less of a issue with pirating compared to what I used to. I used to refuse to lend stuff to friends if I knew they were the type to copy it. However since places like iTunes charge so much more money for stuff downloaded from US servers simply because I live in Australia and our economy is stronger then I have no problem getting around that. I also have little sympathy as the movie industry themselves breached copyright when they made the ads to put on DVD's saying piracy is illegal.

In the end movie/music/games industry could stop most piracy overnight. All they have to do is release stuff at the same time all over the world. A lot of piracy is because people want to be the first to have it and will do whatever they can to get it. Some TV shows will be released onto DVD in the states before it is even shown on air for the first time here! The other people who pirate generally fall into two categories. First being they don't have the money to buy the movie or game or whatever so the company isn't losing revenue anyway and that leaves such a small amount of people who will pirate simply because they can and it simply isn't worthwhile chasing them as you would spend more than what you got back because they really are a very small minority of people.

One final thought is that the argument is made that copyright is to make sure the artist gets money for their work. Why then does copyright last for 70 years after the artists death in the US and Australia (as part of the free trade deal we had to change our laws from 55 years to 70 years). There really is no justification for it. I also think it is plain stupid that I can not go to my friends house and copy a DVD onto my media player leaving absolutely no copy of the movie at his house because that is illegal simply because I do not own the equipment and I didn't do it at his place. So I just occasionly buy equipment from him to do it myself and much to my surprise when I sell the equipment after he is always first in line to buy it back from me!

 

[Spunkn]

Legally speaking yes it is illegal. Morally I would say no it isn't.

How does that work? If something is illegal, then morally you're obligated not to do it as long as it's something that doesn't go against God.

 

[Avniel]

How does that work? If something is illegal, then morally you're obligated not to do it as long as it's something that doesn't go against God.

Legally it is a gray area

 

[QueSi]

So lets say there is this PC game I wanted. I had already owned the game twice on CD for another platform, both of which don't work.

Would it be a sin (ie. stealing) if I were to pirate the game to my PC (even if I had the owned the game before?)

-N

If you bought two manual mustangs and then broke your right arm, would it be ok to steal an automatic mustang?

 

[TheDag]

How does that work? If something is illegal, then morally you're obligated not to do it as long as it's something that doesn't go against God.

If a law goes against God's law we are to follow God's law hence we would be acting morally but not legally according to the country. So the two are not the same. Just to be clear I am not saying piracy laws are against God's laws just demonstrating how it can be true.
Perhaps ethically would have been a better choice of word rather than morally though. I am not good at expressing my thoughts.

 

[prmath]

If I were to buy a newspaper and finish reading it, isn't it ok for me to offer it to you at no charge to also read. I paid for the product so why can I not give it away to others?
True..... Kinda grey area here
With software, I allow others to use it at no charge

 

[TheyCallMeDave]

So lets say there is this PC game I wanted. I had already owned the game twice on CD for another platform, both of which don't work.

Would it be a sin (ie. stealing) if I were to pirate the game to my PC (even if I had the owned the game before?)

-N

The deciding objective standard is this : Are you doing a Merchant/Recording Star/etc... out of money by doing what you have in mind ? The answer would be 'yes' in this particular case...and formulating a justificational excuse doesnt change that. Please consider saving up to buy the Game or borrow it from a Friend or Rental Place .

 

[Spunkn]

If I were to buy a newspaper and finish reading it, isn't it ok for me to offer it to you at no charge to also read. I paid for the product so why can I not give it away to others?
True..... Kinda grey area here
With software, I allow others to use it at no charge

That's like saying if you buy a movie you can't show it to others.

This is receiving a new product, that you didn't pay for, for free, because you feel that since you paid for it before, you deserve a new copy because the others didn't work.

It'd be like buying a toaster, and it stopped working after a while. So you go steal a free one, because you paid for one before.

Granted, that's an extreme example and software rights are a little different at times.

My brother back in his college days spent over $200 buying games that he already owned because he scratched up the CDs or lost them.

Now it's best just to download what you purchase, so if you decide you want it again, you can always redownload. You don't need to buy another physical copy.

But if you want another physical copy, then yeah you have to pay for it. Or you need to purchase the rights to download it somewhere if you haven't before.

 

[Avniel]

First of all it's not pirating secondly most people don't know the law it is neither illegal or legal.