I'm going to try to be as honest as I can.
I download loads of stuffs (even though i'm noob in here) including movies, games, softwares, etc. But when I download pirated materials, I try to avoid one kind of files: a file made from a developer that are desperate. I do not care about Microsoft, Apple, big hollywood movie makers, etc (sry apple). They are pretty stable companies and they probably don't care about a single piracy (maybe they do but i don't care lol). Unlike them, small developers are pretty desperate. They need every single pennies and it would be too mean to just pirate. I try not to pirate apps that are made from small indie devs, unless I'm temporarily trying that file for whatever reason. For example, I pirated Minecraft s long time ago because I wanted to try out and there was no trial version, and then I bought it legitimately after a week or so because it was so fun and they were indies. Well, now that they are making thousands of dollars due to their popularity, I don't really think buying Minecraft now is not really necessary. But I do feel proud that I probably helped Minecraft development and this makes me happy. When I pirate iPhone/iPad apps, I mostly follow this:

if the developer(s) are registered as a person not a company and they did not block IAP Cracker or doesn't have In app purchase -> don't pirate

if the developers are registered as a big stable company and they made good amount of money -> PIRATE

if the developers overpriced the app or put too much in app purchases -> PIRATE



What is YOUR policy for piracy?

JohnRy - this entire thread which you've opened for discussion is based on a definition YOU put inside YOUR mind.
Piracy doesn't exist!!!!
It's sharing.
We all simply share files.
In my personal opinion: mentioning the word piracy is false. Piracy is the word which companies put into circulation to try to falsify the term of sharing. And you're a victim of exactly that.

Piracy, file sharing, stealing, I don't think it really matters how you phrase it. I don't think you can even justify only getting software, movies etc from big companies either because if they start losing a lot of revenue then they will cut back their staff so it does ultimately affect individuals. Why do I do it? Honestly? Because I love free stuff.

Only an ignorant person or company does not differentiate between the term Piracy and stealing and sharing.
Sharing is something COMPLETELY different than stealing.
Don't you see? - that's exactly what companies put in your mind. Companies want you to think that you're stealing or pirating. You're not! :-)
You're downloading a file which I chose to share.

I like how your argument started but it ended with hitting a baby with hammer lol

Personally, I don't feel there's any theft involved. The way I see it, if I'm downloading a TV show that I saw forever-ago on any of the big networks, then they aired it for free anyway, I'm just watching it late.
My internet provider also provides cable television to which I do not subscribe, which in turn results in charging more for my internet service, so ... I really am paying for cable television, so I might as well get to see the shows I like on it (Dexter, Game of Thrones, Walking Dead, WWE wrestling, i.e.).

suedwestgabber has a point as well, but so do you. It really is just sharing, but we also need to understand that it is OUR responsibility to click that "Download Torrent" button and not the uploaders. We have to own our actions, and if that includes snuffing a little bit of guilt, so be it. What helps me, you might ask? (You didn't but here it is) Lady Ga-Ga is not going to suffer if a 9 dollar CD doesn't sell (one that is instead 'pirated'), because at the end of the day, these people already got paid. It's the producers and investors who take a hit if something flops, and they have so many projects going that will make up for it...they've made up for it 1000 times over by the time you're done reading this.

I'm old...sometimes when I pirate, I poop a little, too...

eat more bananas so you can pirate with confidence!!

Why do I pirate? Because I can.

meusli is my recommendation !!

All valid points, everyone of you. But the one thing that will always hold true. NOTHING is free. You may not pay for it now but somewhere down the road you will.