But still.. the fundamental paradox in all this is that this statement is only accurate if by "steal" you mean pulls a device out of his pocket, scans the Mercedes, and prints himself an exact copy and drives away in the "new" one.

I would never buy an iPad. Though if I won one in a raffle or found one discarded I might find use for it.. but Apple has no hope what-so-ever of getting me to buy an iPad. Now I wouldn't "steal" an iPad either, because that deprives the owner of that iPad for something they paid for, their object. When dealing with piracy the only legitimate thing you can be accused of "stealing" is "time". The time it took to make product X because you aren't "stealing" anything physical. Now, if stealing time is a crime then every company in the world that's ever held a meeting owes it's employees some dues .

Having said all this.. I disagree completely with the original question asked in this thread. Either you believe pirating/"stealing" software is wrong or you don't. Either you believe stealing or thieving something physical is wrong or you don't.

Just because a starving woman steals a loaf of bread to feed her malnourished six year-old doesn't suddenly make the wrong a right. It might make it more understandable, but it doesn't change the thing itself. The punishment may change based on the circumstances, but the fundemental thing itself hasn't changed.

IMHO.. when you have to ask "Is it ok when..." you should immediately start to rethink your situation. Justification is like masturbation.. you're only screwing yourself .