>If I steal the food out of your fridge....you can't eat.
>
>If I somehow 'digitally duplicate' the food out your fridge
>and leave without actually taking YOUR food...you can still
>eat.


and in this case, you'd be better off comparing it to if he had a hotdog stand.

it would be like you're standing out in front if his hotdog stand and gave away his hot dogs for FREE.

basically, you're infringing on his right to sell hot dogs.


>
>This distinction is very important. It's why noone has every
>been charged with 'theft' or 'robbery' or 'stealing' for
>downloading/uploading music or any other intellectual
>property.
>

I don't know all the facts, but people HAVE been brought up on charges related to music/copyright infringement, haven't they?


>More clearly, file-sharing is not stealing because noone is
>depriving another of their property.

sure you are. A copyright is a person's property. Which is why I can't put out my own "Off The Wall" album. I have to pay the people who own the copyrights to the lyrics, music, etc. Otherwise, bootlegging would be legal.