On: Canadian anti-piracy outfit pirates photos for its...

[Natsu]

He's pointing out that they're not adhering to their own moral code, rather than trying to hold them to his. That said, they might be able to assert an innocent infringement defense:

http://itlaw.wikia.com/wiki/Innocent_infringement

Standard disclaimers about getting a lawyer if you need legal advice apply, as always.

[diminoten → Natsu]

I'm saying they should be applauded for not adhering to their own moral code by those who disagree with said code.

[dspillett → diminoten]

Not if they then continue to apply that code to other people after not adhering to it themselves. Experience suggests that this is most likely what they will do.

If this is taken as a voyage of personal discovery and they change their ways, then we can applaud their critical thinking ans self inspection. Otherwise we can justifiably cry hypercrit (for all the difference it will make...).

[dspillett → dspillett]

(replying to my own comment instead of diminoten's reply as HN seems to have a nesting limit)

> Either their moral code is something you agree with, or it's something you don't. Who they apply it to is completely irrelevant.

I didn't say they had to apply their own code to themselves to not be completely hypercrits - the other option (as I have already explicitly stated) is to modify their practises to account for their new found enlightenment.

[diminoten → dspillett]

There is nothing meaningful in calling a person hypocritical. It has literally no impact on the validity of their claims.

[dspillett → diminoten]

Their current claims, no. But it calls into question the validity of their previous actions which they are now contradicting.

I'm not commenting on which of the two situations is right (perhaps neither is), if railing against the "one rule for you, one rule for us" thing.

[diminoten → dspillett]

Either their moral code is something you agree with, or it's something you don't. Who they apply it to is completely irrelevant.

Furthermore, you can "cry" whatever you like. Personally, I find calling someone hypocritical to be utterly banal and entirely pointless. It means nothing for their argument. Man is flawed independent of his convictions.

[Natsu → diminoten]

> Either their moral code is something you agree with, or it's something you don't. Who they apply it to is completely irrelevant.

I do not agree. Showing that they hold themselves to a double standard undermines their credibility when they're trying to claim the moral high ground on an issue like this.

If, however, they own up and admit that they screwed up, I will give them due credit for that. I believe I've already mentioned the concept of innocent infringement which may be relevant here.

[biot → diminoten]

There is a certain amount of schadenfreude involved in seeing someone hoisted by their own petard. This is true whether or not you agree with the reasons for said hoisting.