Loading... Is downloading a movie illegally on the internet the same as stealing a DVD in a shop?

http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/comment/9/20 - could this change your minds? Think - is it stealing? Or is it just having a copy.

Logically it makes perfect sense; people shouldn’t download/steal movies and music from Internet. But in reality, those who cannot afford buying DVD's are the ones stealing it. But consider this, movie producers and actors will get paid anyway; It is true that they will get less money because of piracy but the question is, does giving an extra million to already rich actor worth taking away 1 pleasure from people who can’t afford buying DVD's?

To actually answer your question, I don’t think that it is same because of 2 reasons. If it is available on the internet to download I would consider it as a gift, as a find, like as if you found a $100 on the street. You may or may not agree with this, it’s up to you. Second reason, let’s say I bought DVD and I want to share it with other people. NOONE can tell me what to do with the stuff I own, I don’t care what LAW says, neither should you. If you think otherwise, either you’re a hypocrite, or you work for SOPA/ACTA/PIPA etc. It’s just a common sense; I paid money for an item, I can give it to anyone I want.

You all have a lot of pros and cons to the situation, best stated, yes, it is illegal but are people going to continue to do it? Yes they are. If you have the knowledge and the capabilities then do it, if you don't, look it up, then do it. They raise the prices on gas, groceries and everything else. Pretty soon you won't be able to afford that. I don't think that watching a downloaded video or listening to a downloaded song is the problem. It's those who do it and sell them for a profit. At the beginning of movies it tells you this production is not to be copied, sold or used for any other reason unless it is allowed my the production company. There is no stopping the obvious.. It's going to happen. Millions do it on a daily basis, the only way it will be stopped is if they kill the internet completely and that's not going to happen.

As for the book writers, movie producers and musicians. Truth be told, you've all probably downloaded a rift, a song, a movie, or a book, you've all atleast borrowed one of the latter sometime in your past, knowing or not, it's the same thing. You get into the bussiness already knowing that piracy happens, It is what it is..

No, while although they are both stealing in their own way, they are still different. If you steal a copy of a DVD from a store, they must buy another copy to sell. If you download the movie, no one must rebuy the DVD to sell.

Yes. Burglary is stealing, no amount what anatomy it takes. I prefer to buy my favorite DVD movies online. such as Star War Trilogy, Son of anarchy, One Tree Hill and so on. I got many cheap DVD movies from Aussie DVD store. for more info: http://aussiedvdstore.com/

Yes. Stealing is stealing, no matter what form it takes. You are just less likely to get caught on the internet.

Technically speaking, no - it's not. Downloading a movie online is a much more severe crime, as it is breaking federal, and sometimes international, copyright laws. Stealing a $20 DVD from a store is a misdemeanor, and although still illegal, the real punishment behind it is far less severe.

But I think your question is one more of morality, and if that is the case, it all comes down to the person. Say you go into a store of the "Mom & Pop" variety, as in a local shop or store, and steal a DVD they have for sale. And let's say they had it priced at $20. For small stores like this, they more than likely paid very close to that actual price point, and you stealing it means they are now going to have to take that loss, or repurchase the item and that costs them money. The same is true at a place like Walmart, of course, but when it comes to megastores such as those, they can afford to buy items in such extreme bulk, that they are literally paying pennies for their movies on DVD and Bluray. Is the idea the same? Of course it is. You shouldn't be taking it from either place. But quite obviously it's going to hurt the tiny shop owner more than it hurts the big box stores.

When it comes to hurting the studios and productions themselves, neither of these is hurting them at all. I just wrote a Hub about this last evening, entitled Pirates Screaming Piracy. Read that if you want a little more info and my opinion further.

Yes, both times the person is taking that which he doesn't own.

People don't see it as a crime, they see it as convinience - they don't have to run from the store, avoid the coppers and they're much harder to track. I hate the adverts about "you wouldn't steal a car, etc." on DVDs talking about piracy, and it's a good point - would you go into a store and steal a film? It probably won't be in the case anyway haha.

I would say yes because the people who labored on the project are not being paid and you could download a virus or malware to boot.

Yep! I think so it is same kind... Everyone like to view all new movie and no time or lazy to go theater at release. by the way the downloading is easy better then steal :)

Please do not like Piracy. As a you are maker of any Product... It makes pain...

yes. downloading movies from internet and encouraging them are legally wrong.it is same as robbing dvd's or cd's from stores..