Eric Takabayashi wrote:

> Kevin Gowen wrote:
> 
> 
>>If we are going to use your fantasyland of "copyright infringement is
>>theft",
> 
> 
> It's not? What is this whole thread about, then, or people being upset
> because they think I am excusing or justifying trading in unauthorized
> copies or piracy?

Copyright infringement is against the law, but it is not larceny. The
Supreme Court has been very clear on this. If Congress wanted copyright
infringement to be theft, they would have written the statute that way.

>>I see no reason not to say "all knowledge or ignorance is
>>willful". Nice WestLaw-ing, though.
> 
> 
> Ignorance is an acceptable excuse?

Sometimes. Mistake of law is not an excuse ("I didn't know it was
against the law") but mistake of fact sometimes is. For example, while
leaving a restaurant on a rainy day, you take someone else's umbrella
out of the umbrella rack while honestly believing it to be your own. You
have not committed larceny.

- Kevin