>>536
>If in this hypothetical scenario of unbreakable paywalls and rigorously enforced copyright actually were free content, then nothing but samples and other forms of promotional material would publicly exist.

What are you talking about? Even I myself made lots of stuff which is absolutely free drabok also made thousands of pictures all totally free and countless other artists on pixiv who produce free stuff in huge amounts.


>Why should an artist want to bring benefit to people who are not willing to return the favor? Would YOU?

You got it all wrong.
the issue is not why artist should provide things for free but why pirates should listen to the requests of the artist if that artist is not bringing any benefit for them.
According to the basic human interaction principles if you ask for some favor you are required to offer something of equivalent value back.
so what are you going to offer for not pirating that stuff?

>Currently, the pirates have the high ground, because there is nothing artists can do to 100% prevent theft or enforce payment.
No, artists actually can do something which is agreeing to share the work they made a month after it was released behind the paywall to the public, just as original copyright law was expecting it to happen.
If such an agreement is made piracy will not be encouraged anymore because it is mutually beneficial agreement.

>One has to consider, that the collective of REAL pirates (the ones that actually have the know-how to commit the theft) is waaaay smaller than all the screeching wannabes that like, tout and boast about the great piracy culture.
What is exactly that real pirate? you just buy the stuff and share it.
even if you don't want to share it you can trade it with someone who will but some other stuff.

Just like people are willing to share their works for free there are people who are willing to share the stuff they bought. Everyone gets the attention they desire.
if you want to be a hero then just buy some patreon stuff which you like and share it