[citation][nom]hpstudioz[/nom]...That being said, I personally believe there's a difference between movie/software/music piracy & the theft of a tangible item. For example, I'm guilty of downloading the occasional movie or two, however in every instance the movies I've downloaded were movies I had no intention of spending money on in the theater. To further this point I can honestly say there have been instances where the movie I've downloaded actually appeared better than I expected which prompted me to either go see it on the big screen, or purchase the DVD, when I would not have done either before hand. On a side note, I work in the technical support field, from what I see the percentage of end users with the knowledge of peer-to-peer networking at the torrent level is quite minuet when compared to the movie audience. Perhaps the real problem plaguing the movie industry is originality... They have none![/citation]
Well, in most theft that's of significant value, those theives don't steal those items to use them either, they steal them to trade for real money so that they can purchase what they really want. That invalidates your first point.
I will agree with many here, that downloaded content cannot be accounted to 100% in loss of revenue. There are different priorities for movies:
1. I'll see this one in a theater...
2. This is a must buy one, theater or not, depends how much I like it.
3. This is the kind I'll rent for 5$ at block buster or 6$ for the Blue ray version.
4. I'll try to rent it at the corner store for 2.25$
5. I might download it if it peaks my curiosity, but not enough to shell cash for it.
6. My Girlfriend wants me to download a movie that she liked a while ago just to prove to me that its' good, when in turn I find out that I didn't want to watch that movie in the first place. Good thing I downloaded it.