The clean line is quite simple. Ask yourself the question, "Am I getting something for nothing that I should be paying for?". It is no more complicated than that.

The example of 10 folks watching a rented movie is not germaine. That is covered under the doctrine of "fair use". What would not be legal would be copying the movie and giving each guest one.

Library? Again, it is easy. If you borrow it from the library, follow the same rules you would if you took out a book. You can't copy it to get around the purchase. Reading it is, again, fair use.


Morality may have grey areas. Ethics, and theft, do not. It comes down to a very simple question. Should I be paying for this?
Am I stealing from someone? As the world becomes smaller, data becomes more available, and technology makes stealing easier, it is going to become more and more important that society recognizes basic right and wrong and demands it of their citizens. In the 50's the issue was shoplifting. In the 21st century it will be stealing intellectual property. But the basic values must remain the same. If not, the alternative will be a breakdown of the ability to do business, create new music, make a living with one's musical creativity.

Mick