nychamp wrote:If I steal your bicycle, you no longer have it. If I download a video someone else is sharing, I have it, they have it, others have it. Not "stealing". If you want to argue it's wrong, fine, but stealing is not the right word.
Intellectual property theft is considered stealing under any legal or common definition.
The broadcasts we're talking about are produced and broadcast for commercial purposes. It is the reason why you hear the ubiquitous disclaimer about 'unauthorized use is strictly prohibited' during every sports broadcast.
The sites we're referring to do not pay for the rights like the other commercial broadcasters do.
Intellectual property like books, movies, music, games, despite not being physical objects like a bicycle, are recognized by the law as property, no different than a bike, a loaf of bread or a $10 dollar bill.
That fact it can be easily reproduced is not recognized by the law as disqualifying it as being property.
Possessing property without permission IS stealing, and nobody is unclear about this. It is why there are no above-board, commercial sites providing this service.
It is wrong.
It is stealing.
Knowingly doing it and justifying it is really weak.
