Originally Posted by Chris

... which is why we have a separate offence of Taking WithOut Consent (TWOCing, in the vernacular). Also why there is now an offence of fraud for using a chipped box or some other means to get cable/satellite TV without paying. Neither of these is theft as defined by the theft act, but both are still offences and the victim in either case is liable to refer to the act as 'theft'.

Personally I think it's unhelpful for organisations like FACT (the Federation Against Copyright Theft) to keep banging on with the T-word when it doesn't apply; it might keep some of the casual downloaders at bay but all the hardened freetards simply use it as an excuse for a good old fashioned strawman argument about inappropriate use of the word "theft".

The point is, the activity is prohibited by law and there are civil or criminal penalties awaiting those caught doing it.