Originally Posted by Jim_Gunn

Who can really say what someone would or would not have paid for had the alternative to obtain it without compensating the artist and distributors and song writers and publishers. You are taking the self serving word of the dishonest person who got the benefit of the product or service without having to pay for it. What do you think they are going to say? Theft of services and unjust enrichment have long been recognized in the common law for a reason. Try telling the cable company you were not going to pay when you get your illegal cable hookup. That's not a tangible product that you are depriving someone else of either but the penalties in many states are serious for pirating cable.