1. Is the media in question accessible in its original form, in the way it was originally meant to be accessed?
If the media is out of print, taken off digital storefronts, or only available via third parties or as a remastered version, that’s a no.
•Yes: Go to 2
•No: Pirate it
2. Have you bought a version of the media with the same contents before in the past?
It doesn’t have to be in the same form, it just can’t have different stuff inside from the version you bought.
•Yes: Pirate it
•No: Determine whether the difference in content makes pirating this version a different act than pirating a version with the exact same contents:
◦It is: Go to 3
◦It isn’t: Pirate it
3. Are you the audience for the piece of media?
You’re the audience if this is a piece of media that is targeted to you, that you have interest in buying to experience it for yourself. If you’re only interested in a small part of the media, or need a copy for reasons other than experiencing it the way the audience would, you are not the audience. If you’re not sure or skeptical that you’re the audience, treat it as though you’re not the audience.
•Yes: Don’t pirate it
•No: Pirate it and once you’re finished with it, go to 4
4. Having done with the media what you wanted to do, were you correct in your assessment that you weren’t the audience?
Did it turn out to be the thing you weren’t sure it was? Did you decide to experience the way the audience would or enjoy it? This is separate from quality. If you enjoyed it, experienced it the way the audience would, or would have bought it knowing what it was about, even if it turned out to be bad, you turned out to be the audience.
•Yes: Continue on with your life, never to be bothered by flowcharts again
•No: Buy it retroactively