Alex Mullen's Essay 'A Pirate But Not A Thief'

191 Words1 Pages
In Alex Mullen's essay, "A Pirate But Not a Thief: What Does “Stealing” Mean in a Digital Environment?” the author explains the difference between stealing online and borrowing. Mullen explains the definition of stealing: “is the unlawful taking of another’s property or profits without permission” (245). He argues that if an individual downloads movies or music online, it doesn't mean its stealing because you're not taking profit from the original owner, it’s just borrowing. He gives an example that justifies piracy by explaining that it is like renting from a library or video store. I believe online theft would be stealing music and plagiarizing it as your own and selling it. Honestly, I’ve watched movies online, but that’s either because