Sharing is not the problem, all they need to do is make products of such quality that people feels it deserves to be paid for or they are willing to donate if it’s free. Problem solved. They could spend all that money on making such quality or quality control.

Why pay for crap?

As someone in the legal industry (actually Digital forensics) downloading copyrighted materials IS NOT IN ANY WAY Stealing, theft nor larceny.

To steal something requires something to be removed from the rightful owner. A license cannot be removed, nor unless they are acyully MOVING the item elsewhere and not retaining a copy from originating source it still is not stealing.

Copyright Infringement is an infringement upon a license. Nothing more, nothing less. It involves neither theft of monies nor property, Though it can involve upon reasonable proof the loss of future monies.

Yes I know it might be pedantic but you stated that you needed “to call it what it is” and in that vein. It is definitely NOT stealing.

There are many reasons for software and media piracy, but the one cause that stands head and shoulders above the rest is corporate greed.

Mediaeval Europe had to get used to Caxton’s printing press, and 18thC weavers had to get used to mass-production machines.

The media industry can indulge in as much righteous indignation it likes – their days of obscene profits are vanishing and not before time. They’ll go under if they can’t find a new business model.

Mule