ESA happy about prison sentences for game pirates

[twesterm]

ZenfoldorVGI said:

Alright, while I hate pirates and piracy, however, we must make sure the punishment fits the crime. These people don't have the intent to harm others with their actions, nor are they attempting to steal or defraud on a large scale.

An 18 year old hacker/child being raped daily in a federal prison, for stealing a copy of DMC4, is not my idea of justice.


Now, that said, in this case, I feel the sentences might have been warranted, considering the level of the violation.

However much we hate and despise these hackers, we shouldn't that a persons life be ruined for a victimless crime they committed, while setting in front of their computer, in their room, watching Futurama and eating cheetos.

Large scale piracy, or piracy for profit is a completely different beef, though, and in this case, I'm not completely reverted to jail time. My fear is this may be a slippery slope which could lead to smaller, and indeed smalltime offenders catching the same charges.

 

That's more a problem of the prison system and not so much a problem of the punishment.  It is unfortunate that these people will become someone's bitch but that doesn't mean they shouldn't get out of their punishment.