Quote:
Originally Posted by KillerGremlin
Actually, the original uploader pays for the content, be it the scanned comic or the ripped CD. The only thing the library might do better is buying in bulk: for example, my library buys multiple copies of popular media. However, the reason they buy multiple copies of popular media is because of the demand. Hundreds of more patrons want to check out that media.
And I do assume my library pays regular prices, although I could be wrong. Nowadays with Amazon I assume my library just buys stuff from major online retailers. Also I don't directly pay for a library card. Being a citizen of my city I get free access to my local library. Sure, some of the city's tax money goes towards the library but a lot of the money they raise is through donations. As I understand it this is how most public libraries work.
I forgot to add my Library charges a 1 dollar fee for movies. This fee is to pay for new and future movie purchases. This fee is not a royalty fee though.
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Like Angrist points out, Libraries either pay for the item or the item is given to them for no charge. In either case, the producer of the item has full knowledge of the exchange and has given permission for this to take place. The creator/owner is still the person who controls what happens to their content.
And there are a ton of laws that libraries must abide by:
http://www.librarylaw.com/
Not only that, but the product in most cases must be returned to the Library so that others may borrow it at another time, while most people that steal music/movies/games etc. on-line do so with no intention of returning or deleting the content. More than likely they'll burn it to disc to use later. In any case, it's irrelevant because they have no permission to do so.
A better example of digital sharing would be if Libraries didn't offer copies of books and movies, but instead offered printing presses, DVD and CD recorders so that their members could come in and print themselves any books, movies or cds they like with no worry about returning them. Something tells me that any library that did this would be shut down immediately.
The bottom line is: If the owner of the content hasn't given you permission to use it/download it/save it, you are stealing. It doesn't matter if you plan to do what you deem moral with the content, you took it upon yourself to take what is not yours without the permission of the owner. That is theft. It's not your decision to make because it's not your property.
If you take something that does not belong to you without permission, you are a thief. Quite honestly, this is not difficult. It is as simple as law gets, both human and natural.