(April 17, 2015 at 5:42 pm)Chas Wrote:(April 13, 2015 at 5:34 pm)bennyboy Wrote: I'm curious about the moral arguments for and against downloading-- specifically for downloading games, images/data and applications for free when the creating company intended for all users to make a purchase. I don't care so much whether it's right or wrong-- but on what basis the moral arguments are to be made.
For example, how does the concept of social contract apply here? How are "right" and "wrong" defined in terms of data?
It seems to me that very many people do download things, and with a clean conscience, because they don't believe that any social contract exists, and that downloading is therefore a-moral rather than immoral. Ideas?
(And please don't just shout "Downloading is stealing!" I'm looking for a moral framework in which decisions can sensibly be made)
It is property, so it has the same basis as any other theft of property.
Downloading a file that has already been uploaded to a server is merely duplicating the file. There is no law against duplicating the file. Duplicating property is not theft.
