Dear Economist,
I am often offered the chance to have an unauthorised copy of a current film downloaded from the web. As family circumstances presently preclude cinema trips, these offers present my only chance to see some films promptly.
I do not believe in enjoying the fruits of other people’s labours for free. So is there any way in which I can make financial reparation for watching an unauthorised copy?
I live very close to a cinema so one option is to buy a ticket for a screening even though I won’t actually be there. Or I could buy a copy of the DVD when it comes out, even though I don’t really want to own it.
If I cannot put this right in economic terms, my conscience tells me not to watch!
Yvonne, London
Answer at ft.com, subscription free.