Jordan Kendrick :popos: (@jordan_kendrick@fosstodon.org)
fosstodon.org
@Ertain@mast.linuxgamecast.com @gamingonlinux@mastodon.social If purchasing isn’t owning, then piracy isn’t stealing.

I am ashamed that I hadn’t reasoned this through given all the rubbish digital services have pulled with “purchases” being lies.

  • Stuka@lemmy.worldEnglish
    34·
    1 year ago

    I guess you can’t steal anything when you just decide to limit the definition of the word.

    But if we’re in reality and using the way words are actually defined then yes you can steal something intangible, and no it does not require someone to be deprived of something.

    • Burn_The_Right@lemmy.worldEnglish
      3·
      1 year ago

      I’m not going to look up every state, but the Penal Code in some states explicitly define theft as:

      A person commits an offense if he unlawfully appropriates property with intent to deprive the owner of property.

      So, I think it is reasonable to include intent to deprive as part of the definition.