Copying Is Not Theft - Official Version
Why Hacker News recommends it
Linked constantly in copyright and piracy debates as a short explainer of the difference between copying and physical theft.
What it is
Nina Paley's one-minute animated free culture anthem with vocals by Connie Champagne, arguing that copying is not theft.
Recommended by 6 HN commenters across 6 different months, 2010 to 2026.
What Hacker News said
Strong rec vibragiel · 2010-12 · on “The "other" side of file sharing”
When this video* was published, I thought the idea it tells was too obvious and well known, but time proved me wrong it seems. Please watch it. (*) [this video]
Recommends lince · 2013-02 · on “Court orders UK ISPs to block more piracy sites”
Agree with you, except on the use of "steal". You steal when the owner lose the original. What happens in BitTorrent/FTP is copy. More about in copy is not theft video: [this video]
Recommends jra_samba · 2016-10 · on “Netflix Now Only Has 31 Movies from IMDB's Top 250 List”
I can't believe people are still equating copyright infringement with physical theft. Didn't that tired old argument die a long time ago ? If not, why not ? One more time, boys and girls: [this video]
Recommends Matumio · 2022-01 · on “Copyright doesn't need 95 years to get the job done”
Oh no, you are now required to watch this damned cartoon: [this video] (A one minute ELI5 explanation about the difference between physical and intellectual property.)
Recommends glerk · 2022-04 · on “The bottom is dropping out of Netflix”
It’s been more than a decade since I had the opportunity to plug this educative video in an internet conversation: [this video]
Recommends autoexec · 2023-12 · on “If buying isn't owning, piracy isn't stealing”
Which dictionary defines taking as simply gaining or acquiring something? If you "take" something from someone else it generally means that they no longer have what you took. This is all really pretty simple: [this video] Also, (at least in the US) legally copyright infringement is distinct from stealing.
Cites wolfgke · 2015-07 · on “‘Flash Boys’ Programmer in Goldman Case Prevails Second Time”
> I am not familiar enough to say he did or didn't steal company property, but I would certainly not say that " there is no market for stolen code ". He hasn't stolen anything (since the source code is still on GS' computers), he just copied it illegaly. Using the word "stealing" for this is plain propaganda. > [this video] [Copying Is Not Theft]
Cites hjek · 2018-12 · on “Electronics-Recycling Innovator Going to Prison for Extending Computers’ Lives”
It seems that this "manufacturing counterfeits" is literally just copying Windows CDs: > Lundgren made 28,000 of the discs and shipped them to a broker, who planned to sell them to computer refurbishing shops for about 25 cents each, so they could provide them to used-computer buyers. > Microsoft’s lawyers valued the discs at $25 each and said they represent $700,000 in potential sales. Firstly I think it's a harsh sentence (because copying isn't theft[0]), but secondly can anyone tell me why on earth he didn't just burn some Debian discs? (Perhaps with LXDE if it's really old computers.) [0]: [this video]