To call such a practice ‘scummy’ is relatively kind and forgiving compared to calling it ‘piracy’ or ‘illegal’.

 To call such a practice ‘scummy’ is relatively kind and forgiving compared to calling it ‘piracy’ or ‘illegal’. My understanding is that by law it is not a criminal offense. But rather, it is a potential civil offense. The difference is that a plaintiff must show to a judge or a jury in court that they have been hurt in some way by the practice of copying. You would have to consult a lawyer that specializes in copyright law for actual legal advice. Your question has a great deal to do with copyright, or the right to make a copy of a creative work. It also has to do with what ‘ownership’, as opposed to ‘stewardship’ means.There has been a great deal of debate over this, especially with the technology of the internet that allows for perfect copies. I don’t expect to settle this debate here, or to change anyone’s mind. My own opinion is that, if you wish to keep a secret, as in a creative work, then you must keep it to yourself. The moment that you tell someone else, a publisher, a distributor, a work colleague, a family member, anyone, it is no longer a secret. Either way there are advantages and disadvantages. It can have the potential to influence others. The idea can be refined and polished by exposure to others. On the other hand, the idea can be copied even if the source of the idea cannot.

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