Argh! Is this stealing? Piracy, Ethics, etc.

[Lavazza]

Now- I'm not looking for compliments so much as just trying to do what I think is right

Well done. Good Job I thought that was super classy and awesome style...
Oh wait. NOT looking for compliments..

And although they were unasked for, I will offer thanks

@LaVazza... It's not stealing, stealing is defined by law as taking an article making it impossible for the original owner to make use of the article.

I am not versed in the actual law as it is written and recorded, but if this is how the law defines stealing, I will have to slightly disagree with it. In my view stealing is the simple act of taking something without permission. So unless a record label or music artist, or someone else who has authority over the original content tells me it is ok to download it for free, I would call it theft.

The legal system and the music industry is infinitely more complex then the example that I am about to offer, but please bear with me:

Suppose I recorded an album of myself playing the spoons with an old fashioned washboard. (I just might!). I have an idea in advance of how many people will buy it. Lets say 10 people for example. I launch the album, and of my estimated 10 customers, 2 of them download it for free from the internet. Thus I only earn 80% of my expected income, almost as if someone had stolen the other 20%. This is simplified from reality, but on a fundamental level is this not the real life scenario?