I think the very Gallic logic here is that if I buy a book, then decide to give it to a friend, that friend should not have to pay the publisher.
Since a file has no physical substance, it means that when I buy a data file, and decide to pass it on to a friend, he should not have to pay again.
Fewer people would buy pirated files if the publishers charged a fair price. I will not pay $25 - $30 for a DVD,but will pay what I consider reasonable. Since the West is destroying the livelihoods of 3rd world farmers and their families by subsidizing goods, why won't the record industry destroy the livelihood of the pirates, by subsidizing the ridiculous prices of CDs and DVDs which cost peanuts to make.
HB