I don't follow this as a justification for piracy. Piracy isn't stealing but, assuming if it was not possible to pirate you were going to pay for the game, you are still causing the person who owns the game to lose money they would have otherwise gained.
My justification is much simpler: capitalists suck, buying games supports capitalists so I'm keeping my money.
assuming if it was not possible to pirate you were going to pay for the game
That's not a reasonable assumption at all.
Sometimes people can't afford the extortionate game prices and thus wouldn't be bying them no matter what.
Other times, such as with the Denuvo DRM monstrosity or draconian anticheat systems on single player modes, pirated copies are better than bought ones.
And, as you say yourself, sometimes you just don't want to support the capitalists ruining games in order to squeeze every possible cent of profit out of them regardless of what that means for the quality of games and treatment of gamers.
If you can't afford it then pirate it. There is no victim so I really see 0 reason not to.
"it's not yours" is not valid. Who owns it then? Disney? Why does Disney deserve to own it any more than you? They didn't put in any work to make it, the actors, directors, vfx artists, writers, producers, camera people, etc etc made the film. How come they don't own any of it?
You specifically chose one sentence from my argument and anilised that
Two sentences.
And I find copyright infringement still unethical. Because you are taking what's not yours, and the thing you're taking - is not some vital resource type you're taking out of desperation. It's a game.
But does the legal owner deserve to own it and profit off it? Again I ask you, do you understand the difference between what is ethical and what is legal.
It’s a game.
Piracy extends to all forms of media and software, not just games. I believe media is still incredibly important to a persons development. Media in all forms is a way to learn from other people and create a deeper understanding of how the world works. And taking that away from something because they don't have the means to access it legally is not right. On top of this people deserve to have fun, and taking away peoples opportunity to have fun just because they don't have the means to access it legally is also not right.
To take illegally, or without the owner's permission, something owned by someone else without intending to return it.
It's hard for me to say weather this definition encompasses piracy or not. Although I would err to the side of piracy not being stealing, since media isn't physical.
I used to be philosophically anti-piracy in principle, and would often argue online against people who posted disingenuous or self-serving justifications for their actions. But these days the amount of piss-taking by the publishers has destroyed my resolve.
I don't really care if it is stealing. Steal all you want. The random dude making the modern day equivalent of a flash game is certainly not counting on game sales to make ends meet, and the corporations can get fucked and die.
And that's fine because the assumption behind "Indie" is they did all the hardwork themselves without getting paid regularly. Consider 500k is not a lot if you count how many months of work was put into the games without pay.
We’re not mad about them hitting the nat 20 😂 we’re mad it was assumed they made zero money so it doesn’t matter if we pirate from them lol hungry devs needa eat fat cat Microsoft can suffer the thousand cuts lol
Better for security too. A game is a full program and can do basically anything on your computer. I don't even trust games from legit sources to run on my main OS. So if you pirate a game at the very least run it in a VM.
fun fact, pirating the game means you actually own it
I have repacked drm free pirated versions of games I own just in case i lose access to them or they get shut down
All games are technically licensed or something like that. I can't remember precisely how, but software is licensed and pirating is considered "breach of contract", not stealing. You shouldn't take my word for it because idk what I'm talking about. All I know is rich people hate it, so fuck'em!!
Pirating is copyright infringement. In other words, you infringed on the rights of the copyright owner to dictate how their “copy” is used. In this case, the term “copy” is being used as in “collection of writing”, not the common colloquial synonym for “duplicate” - copyright was invented before video games, after all ;)
No, i legitimately bought it. You saying "it's actually merely a usage license" is not my concern, yell at the shop that sold it with some fineprint somewhere.
you must be that greedy little pig that thinks piracy reduces "potential" sales and hence "potential" profit. If you crave for what is not rightfully yours you are a sinner.
49 Comments
pineapple@lemmy.ml · 29 pts · 118d
I don't follow this as a justification for piracy. Piracy isn't stealing but, assuming if it was not possible to pirate you were going to pay for the game, you are still causing the person who owns the game to lose money they would have otherwise gained.
My justification is much simpler: capitalists suck, buying games supports capitalists so I'm keeping my money.
young_broccoli@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 30 pts · 118d
Personally, If its not possible to pirate something I just forget about it until it is
conartistpanda@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 117d
Sonic Frontiers my beloved.
Viking_Hippie@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 27 pts · 118d
That's not a reasonable assumption at all.
Sometimes people can't afford the extortionate game prices and thus wouldn't be bying them no matter what.
Other times, such as with the Denuvo DRM monstrosity or draconian anticheat systems on single player modes, pirated copies are better than bought ones.
And, as you say yourself, sometimes you just don't want to support the capitalists ruining games in order to squeeze every possible cent of profit out of them regardless of what that means for the quality of games and treatment of gamers.
pineapple@lemmy.ml · 4 pts · 116d
In that case piracy is fully justified. If you wouldn't have bought it if piracy wasn't an option then I have no issues.
Bottom two reasons: yeah fuck DRM and capitalism. I didn't say I'm against pirating, I just need to find the logical justification :)
Viceversa@lemmy.world · -13 pts · 117d
If you want to play a game - pay the owner.
If you can't afford it - don't pirate it. It's not yours.
Upd: Wow, there are a lot of freeloaders in this thread.
pineapple@lemmy.ml · 3 pts · 116d
If you can't afford it then pirate it. There is no victim so I really see 0 reason not to.
"it's not yours" is not valid. Who owns it then? Disney? Why does Disney deserve to own it any more than you? They didn't put in any work to make it, the actors, directors, vfx artists, writers, producers, camera people, etc etc made the film. How come they don't own any of it?
Viceversa@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 116d
Huh? The legal system would politely disagree.
For the USA look it up in the USPTO database (USPTO = United States Patent and Trademark Office) or in game's EULA.
pineapple@lemmy.ml · 1 pts · 116d
You specifically chose one sentence from my argument and anilised that while ignoring all of the context around it.
Do you understand there is a difference between what is legal and what is ethical and sometimes the law can be unfair or unethical?
I still dont see any issues in a victimless crime.
Viceversa@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 115d
Two sentences.
And I find copyright infringement still unethical. Because you are taking what's not yours, and the thing you're taking - is not some vital resource type you're taking out of desperation. It's a game.
pineapple@lemmy.ml · 1 pts · 115d
I stand corrected.
But does the legal owner deserve to own it and profit off it? Again I ask you, do you understand the difference between what is ethical and what is legal.
Piracy extends to all forms of media and software, not just games. I believe media is still incredibly important to a persons development. Media in all forms is a way to learn from other people and create a deeper understanding of how the world works. And taking that away from something because they don't have the means to access it legally is not right. On top of this people deserve to have fun, and taking away peoples opportunity to have fun just because they don't have the means to access it legally is also not right.
calmblue75@lemmy.ml · 1 pts · 115d
Paying the creator I understand, but what is this "pay the owner"?
Viceversa@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 115d
Creators often sell rights to their game in exchange for money then and there. So creators are not anyways owners.
OwOarchist@pawb.social · 1 pts · 118d
Piracy is stealing and stealing is good.
pineapple@lemmy.ml · 3 pts · 116d
theft definition
It's hard for me to say weather this definition encompasses piracy or not. Although I would err to the side of piracy not being stealing, since media isn't physical.
skisnow@lemmy.ca · 19 pts · 117d
I used to be philosophically anti-piracy in principle, and would often argue online against people who posted disingenuous or self-serving justifications for their actions. But these days the amount of piss-taking by the publishers has destroyed my resolve.
Yarrr.
procapra@lemmy.ml · 15 pts · 118d
I don't really care if it is stealing. Steal all you want. The random dude making the modern day equivalent of a flash game is certainly not counting on game sales to make ends meet, and the corporations can get fucked and die.
:)
Blurntout@lemmy.ca · 4 pts · 118d
Watching indie devs make 500k off of flash games 😅
MadhuGururajan@programming.dev · 7 pts · 117d
And that's fine because the assumption behind "Indie" is they did all the hardwork themselves without getting paid regularly. Consider 500k is not a lot if you count how many months of work was put into the games without pay.
Blurntout@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 117d
We’re not mad about them hitting the nat 20 😂 we’re mad it was assumed they made zero money so it doesn’t matter if we pirate from them lol hungry devs needa eat fat cat Microsoft can suffer the thousand cuts lol
MadhuGururajan@programming.dev · 2 pts · 115d
yeah my position is to be very clear that we are not against making money but about unsatiable greed shown from the likes of ubisoft or microslop.
Digit@lemmy.wtf · 10 pts · 118d
Orrr
Just get games with a free software license.
Then you both own it and did not pay. :)
HiddenLayer555@lemmy.ml · 7 pts · 118d
Better for security too. A game is a full program and can do basically anything on your computer. I don't even trust games from legit sources to run on my main OS. So if you pirate a game at the very least run it in a VM.
Digit@lemmy.wtf · 1 pts · 118d
... a better "both ways" you can have.
Jankatarch@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 117d
I am just paying a different entity that provides the same "service" for cheaper at the cost of my sense of security.
cheesorist@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 116d
fun fact, pirating the game means you actually own it I have repacked drm free pirated versions of games I own just in case i lose access to them or they get shut down
CyroSignal@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 117d
Anyway, Nintendo and Xbox have colossal fortunes; I don't think pirating one of their games is going to bankrupt them.
KazuchijouNo@lemy.lol · 5 pts · 118d
All games are technically licensed or something like that. I can't remember precisely how, but software is licensed and pirating is considered "breach of contract", not stealing. You shouldn't take my word for it because idk what I'm talking about. All I know is rich people hate it, so fuck'em!!
4am@lemmy.zip · 7 pts · 118d
Pirating is copyright infringement. In other words, you infringed on the rights of the copyright owner to dictate how their “copy” is used. In this case, the term “copy” is being used as in “collection of writing”, not the common colloquial synonym for “duplicate” - copyright was invented before video games, after all ;)
So in other words: no it’s never been theft
Viceversa@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 117d
Yes. It was (and is) the other kind of legal offence. A copyright infringement, as you described exhaustively.
HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 117d
conceptually how can i violate a license i'm not party to? (idk what i'm talking about either but i like pretending)
Viceversa@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 117d
Because use of the product comes with an agreement.
And no, you can't "la-la-la, I'm not listening to this agreement, I'm not seeing it" your way out of it.
MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 117d
No, i legitimately bought it. You saying "it's actually merely a usage license" is not my concern, yell at the shop that sold it with some fineprint somewhere.
adam_y@lemmy.world · -28 pts · 118d
StarvingMartist@sh.itjust.works · 17 pts · 118d
It's 2026 and it's the first time you seen this meme?
HonoraryMancunian@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 117d
They're being sarky
yogthos@lemmy.ml · 13 pts · 118d
nah I didn't make the meme, and I find it hilarious when people try to nitpick memes as if they were some philosophical treatises
Maeve@kbin.earth · 7 pts · 118d
It's also funny when they're nitpicked, even with overt hostility, only in the OP post, not the repost.
yogthos@lemmy.ml · 5 pts · 118d
it's like there's a personal axe to grind 🤣
Maeve@kbin.earth · 5 pts · 118d
😂
pineapple@lemmy.ml · 4 pts · 118d
Oh I just fell for it.
MadhuGururajan@programming.dev · 2 pts · 117d
you must be that greedy little pig that thinks piracy reduces "potential" sales and hence "potential" profit. If you crave for what is not rightfully yours you are a sinner.
Viceversa@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 117d
Are you talking about pirates and people, who use their work?
MadhuGururajan@programming.dev · 1 pts · 115d
I am speaking about those who project their profits