@AC

"IME, people buy what they want to buy - whether they can get it without paying or not.

People who download stuff are not customers; if the downloads went away, they would just do without. No cash is being lost to this activity."

Oh not that again. Taking something without permission or payment is theft. Period. 'You can't charge me with anything, Judge, 'cause I wouldn't have taken it if it hadn't been available and sometimes I buy things.' Huh?

"Just occasionally, someone might download something he didn't think he wanted - and then decide to buy the genuine item on the back of that experience."

Wow! Another one who thinks people should be happy when their stuff gets ripped off and spread around 'cause somebody 'might' occasionally buy something. And to think some of the sad-asses aren't suitably grateful.

@dave

"To all the daily mail reading, wannabe middleclass arsehole fascists such as Ima, what happens when the government criminalize what you do will you be so high and mighty then?"

Yeah I'm a fascist because I don't think 'Because I wanna' is an ethical standard. Must remember to pick up my brown shirt from the dry cleaner.

As for "when the government criminalize... blah, blah" Yeah great argument. The big bad gov might make it illegal to do what I do so I should be humble (!?) and turn a blind eye to all criminal activities* because well, ya never know (accompanied by spooky sounds).

*at least the ones you might want to engage in.

Yeah that makes sense.

Sorry guys - I just don't agree that 'the right to steal' is a right I should want to stand up for. If you were stealing food or medicine because you genuinely couldn't get it any other way then that is another matter but music? games? movies? C'mon. Get real.