What file-sharers or the law say is <i>irrelevant</i> to the fact or non-fact that copying is stealing. Nor whether or not file-sharers want <i>free stuff</i> have anything to do with the non-fact and fact of copying and stealing being an equivalent. Authority and intention doesn't matter. What does matter if it logically make sense to make equivalent the crime of copying to stealing.<p>To steal is to deprive someone of their property.<p>To copy is to make duplicates of something. There is no deprivation of property occurring.<p>Therefore, copying is NOT stealing.