You've got a misleading title there. You don't need to read this book, you just (in your own words) "want to read it."
So, of course you have a choice. Read something else.
The universe doesn't owe you a constant stream of your preferred reading material in the cheapest and most convenient way possible. There are 50 used and new copies for sale on Amazon.com. You're telling me not a single one of them could be bribed into shipping internationally for you? There's not a single Lithuanian book shop that will do a special order? Lithuania has blocked BonVu.com?
I think what you mean to say is that you didn't feel like paying extra for a book or waiting for it to arrive. So really, you pirated out of convenience rather than necessity.
If there are systems set up that cut off knowledge from certain parts of the world, or even make it much harder to get it, I think that is injustice. I regard it as a basic human right to have access to the same information everyone else does. That's why we have public libraries.
In the U.S., we regard free speech as sacred, and I would argue that the reverse of free speech - the right to hear others - is equally as vital.
This idea that someone owns unique configuration of words and sounds is old and dying. You can own distribution platforms, own objects, and hire people who can make streams of words. But you can't own an idea.
--This idea that someone owns unique configuration of words and sounds is old and dying.--
That software you're working on is just a unique configuration of words and symbols. I think there's value in protecting that, and I don't see any difference in regards to written publications.
"I'm pretty sure we can open source all of our code, and it will be business as usual."
For everyone working on something trivial, which is most people, you're right. I don't think it would really work for important complex algorithms, etc., i.e., Google is not going to open source their search algorithm.
It sounds like you're saying that Google, after coming up with their version of search, should've just opened it up to the world, because everyone has the "right" to know what they're up to. Do you think they'd be in the same position today if they'd done that?
Here - I rewrote your post to be a little more constructive:
Perhaps you could try to find a book shop that will do a
special order? I found 50 copies on Amazon.com. You could
look into getting it shipped via bonvu.com if nobody will
ship internationally.
If all that fails and piracy really concerns you, remember
you don't *have* to read the book.
So, of course you have a choice. Read something else.
The universe doesn't owe you a constant stream of your preferred reading material in the cheapest and most convenient way possible. There are 50 used and new copies for sale on Amazon.com. You're telling me not a single one of them could be bribed into shipping internationally for you? There's not a single Lithuanian book shop that will do a special order? Lithuania has blocked BonVu.com?
I think what you mean to say is that you didn't feel like paying extra for a book or waiting for it to arrive. So really, you pirated out of convenience rather than necessity.