As though they had a right to have a copy of the works simply because they were technologically capable of getting their hands on one without paying for it.
Because that's how it works by default. I'm not saying it's right or that you should agree, but you should at least understand the perspective.
By default, we have the right to do anything that we have the ability to do. The exceptions are just that: exceptions, and which have to be justified.
Now, you could say, "that's the law, therefore it's obvious that it is an exception", but we don't really take the law as an ethical system. Or do you feel that it's perfectly OK to get works for free in places where that is not illegal, like Switzerland?
You have an intuition that copying works without paying is wrong. That's fine, but you shouldn't be amazed that people who don't have that intuition feel free to do so. Even if you still condemn them for it (which is fine).
Because that's how it works by default. I'm not saying it's right or that you should agree, but you should at least understand the perspective.
By default, we have the right to do anything that we have the ability to do. The exceptions are just that: exceptions, and which have to be justified.
Now, you could say, "that's the law, therefore it's obvious that it is an exception", but we don't really take the law as an ethical system. Or do you feel that it's perfectly OK to get works for free in places where that is not illegal, like Switzerland?
You have an intuition that copying works without paying is wrong. That's fine, but you shouldn't be amazed that people who don't have that intuition feel free to do so. Even if you still condemn them for it (which is fine).