On: Megaupload down, FBI Charges Seven With Online Pir...

[sophacles]

Probably because:

   pi·ra·cy/ˈpīrəsē/
   Noun:	
   1. The practice of attacking and robbing ships at sea.
   2. A similar practice in other contexts, esp. hijacking.

Is not the same as "making a copy of something in violation of copyright rules".

[Karunamon → sophacles]

Get modern dictionary.

pi·ra·cy

noun /ˈpīrəsē/ 

piracies, plural

1. The practice of attacking and robbing ships at sea

2. Similar practice in other contexts, esp. hijacking - air piracy

3. The unauthorized use or reproduction of another's work - software piracy

[sophacles → Karunamon]

A. My definition was a c+p from a Google search for "define piracy"

B. The equation of copyright infringement with other types of piracy (and theft for that matter) is misleading and pure propaganda (granted, its 300 year old propaganda, but still wrong).

[Karunamon → sophacles]

>My definition was a c+p from a Google search for "define piracy"

So was mine! On further examination, it seems the third definition doesn't come up unless you click details. My apologies for the acerbic tone!

[kahirsch → sophacles]

The word "piracy" has been used for "unauthorized reproduction or use of an invention or work of another" since the 1650s, according to the OED.

[sophacles → kahirsch]

Agreed, it has a long history of being used in that sense. That does not however make it more correct. Perhaps it's time to stop just going with the equation of piracy and infringement, and instead call it what it is. Old misconceptions are still misconceptions.