Comment by colinthompson | Hacker News Reader

Comment by colinthompson | Hacker News Reader

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First and foremost- this content was stolen. You haven’t paid for it. If you saw a stolen car left on the side of the road, would to take it for a joyride?

Secondly, do you think watching these these videos is making anyone at rockstar fired up? Do you think they like this? I believe that almost all of them are deeply saddened by this. Should we celebrate and respect people’s work by making them feel awful?

Lastly I’m not telling anyone what to do. I’m just merely pointing out that this content is not soul-less. It’s built on the backs of people who did not willingly share this material. I think it’s awesome if people are curious, but I think to is incredible disrespectful to execute that curiosity by forcefully stealing something.

The semantics are more important to me, and it affects my thoughts on your analogies too.

Stealing requires moving something from its original place, like the car. This was copied. It is copyright infringement, at best, and an issue for the person copying for others consumption, not the consumer. Its not the consumers responsibility to know who has a license to avoid infringing a copyright, and it isn't their liability to view. Elaborate marketing stunt or actual leak? Not my responsibility to care. But let me know if you come up with a more applicable analogy, I’m fine with analogies comparing dissimilar things that share something in common, I think this one dilutes your point here and fails at providing any introspective possibility.

I can relate to the idea that someone wanted a grand reveal, I don't have the same feelings as you about them being deprived of that goal. I think there would be plenty of artists in the organization that are annoyed at the direction of the development choices and are elated that the public can criticize it now.

> If you saw a stolen car left on the side of the road

Relax, it's just a few videos. Not the actual game. It's publicity and won't hurt sales. May even help pre-order sales.

The irony of your analogy is that stealing cars and crime in general is encouraged and celebrated in the game. Watching a few leaked videos of that action is not a moral dilemma.

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