[winmobilelawyer]

The reason people will download a song file off the internet and not walk out with a CD from a store is because that song file is worth ZERO. It literally has no value. Artists and music companies would like you to think it has value but it doesn't. When you pay 99 cents to download on iTunes you are not paying for the song, you are paying for the service of being able to download that song. Once I own something I have the right to control and give that to whomever I please. Don't get mad at me yet....

I really do believe I should be able to give whatever ever I own to whomever I want, **BUT** on the same token, those who create the songs, the software, etc also have that same right to give their software to whomever they choose. This whole issue is not about STEALING, it's about breaking LICENSING agreements. Companies are basically selling you software on the condition that you promise to be the only person who uses it. You already own the product, therefore being the person who takes it without paying is not stealing, and technically using stolen software is not a crime unless in order to install it, you use a stolen code (that you personally stole) or agree to a license agreement. But the point is that companies are contracting with you for use of the software, which is why they can sell to a school for cheaper than a business or sell an individual license for cheaper than a business office multiuse license. Though I think there should be limitations on how far reaching licensing agreements should be enforceble (i.e. Company A sells you PPC Software on the agreement that you only use it on tuesdays), I think that a producer of a product does have a basic right to control their products.

/end legal rant