Copying Is Not Theft

I don't think making semantic distinctions is what the copyright discussion needs.

The video says that theft leaves one less thing behind. Copying a song leaves one less sale (or one less potential sale) for the company that owns the song. That copying a song is not a physical act resulting in one less song in one place and one more song in your possession is an irrelevant distinction.

Copying may not be theft, but both copying and theft are ways of acquiring something through inappropriate means at someone else's expense.

"If copying isn't theft then I suppose you won't mind if I copy and turn in your term paper before you do (thus making your paper worth less). After all, you still have your term paper right?"

I suppose I should take heart that those condone copying/stealing others creations must have some conscience left. Otherwise they wouldn't have to resort to such weak rationalizations as this.