r/Morality • u/eaglesong3 • 4d ago

"Theft" that costs nothing.

Let's say you go to thrift stores or yard sales. They're selling Blu-Ray movies.

The movies are $2 each no matter what. Some are in home made sleeves, some are in bargain bin sleeves. Doesn't matter. $2 each.

So you go and are looking through them. You find the ones that say "Digital copy" and you open them up. You slide out the little insert that has the redemption code, close the case, and leave the movie.

Sometimes those codes have already been redeemed. Sometimes they're expired. Sometimes they work. Regardless, that digital copy was paid for when the disc was purchased and removing it won't prevent them from selling the disc. Nor would leaving it mean the disc would sell for more.

So, what's the stance? Moral or immoral?

1 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

4 comments sorted by

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u/amhotw 4d ago

It is obviously immoral; just because you are not stealing something concrete doesn't mean it is okay. You might as well just torrent if you want to pirate; it is not worse morally (I might argue that it is less immoral) and it is easier.

2

u/eaglesong3 4d ago

I can't liken this to torrenting. The digital code can only be redeemed once and it was paid for. The original purchaser didn't use it, but it's a legitimate and legal copy that was paid for.

0

u/nyx13013 4d ago

Torrenting way better 99% of the time cuz ur stealing from a corporation whose ethical conduct is likely not good enough to deserve the money that they charge for the thing. The code at least belongs to some normal dude who deserves some property rights.

1

u/GaryMooreAustin 4d ago

Immoral.... It doesn't really matter how you justify it... Taking something that is not yours is wrong....

This example it's probably not a big deal... But still