All broadcast television shows are aired for free too, but that doesn’t keep them from being easily pirated.

That “you wouldn’t download a car” became the meme while the ad itself said “you wouldn’t steal a car” drives home exactly how effective these ads were at conflating the two.

You’ve never seen this? Never heard “home taping is killing music” or “don’t copy that floppy”?

I blame the “piracy is stealing” advertising/propaganda. It was super effective, given that we all remember it.