Piracy is TOTALLY the wrong word for the copying and sharing of digital works, and CERTAINLY for... data sheets?
Well say you made a film or wrote a book and decided to make it freely available. Would you be happy if I came along, made a copy of it and started charging people for it ? I call that piracy of a form, ok the manufacturers don't sell the datasheets why should anyone else.
I used to be ablwe to google a part number + datacheet and instantly get onto the MANUFACTURERS website and download it from the legitimate source up to date and free of charge. But not any more. now it is almost easier to know who made the part and go to their website and get it than googling for it
You're totally missing the point (don't worry, most people do). Forget the forum, forget the internet, forget copying things... close your eyes, and think about exactly what image the word "pirate" conjours up...
It's a nonsense word, hyped for the benefit of capitalist MPAA/RIAA fat cats, to make the act of downloading a film seem morally equivalent to rape and murder. Don't believe me? I suggest you go hunting for Richard Stallman lectures - the guy is a total legend (literally) and a genius.
If I had a film and you copied it? Do you think I would lose sleep worrying over a minority percentage who will ALWAYS rip a DVD or download warez? I'd rather spend my energy improving my software or writing a new screenplay. It's an occupational hazard - you can either factor it in, or spend the rest of your life getting into a rage about it. Let 'em "pirate" the datasheets, seriously, get over it.
PS: MANY, MANY people will download a film or software and then buy it after the fact anyhow. There have been numerous studies and experiments which categorically show this to be the case. The people who download the stuff but don't pay for it are likely never to have bought it ANYWAY, so where is the loss? Seriously, it is not an issue, it is just a fuss and drama made to incriminate everyone - "guilty until proven innocent". BS! I say download my film if you like - I hope you enjoy it, and if your conscience feels like it is a good production, then make a donation or buy it. If you didn't like it, then that's okay with me
People are SO ignorant of how copyright should/shouldn't work etc, and "intellectual property law". Seriously, Google Richard Stallman - he made it his life's mission to lecture on these topics, of which he is an aged scholar. You could really benefit from his deeper knowledge.
PPS: How is it possible to "pirate" free things?