Re:hmm... (Score 1)

Tim O'Reilly already provided the answer; "Piracy is a progressive taxation". http://openp2p.com/lpt/a/3015

For more obscure works (eg sci-fi by Cory Doctorow, indie films such as Sita, Ink) free copying has a beneficial, promotional effect.

For already popular works (already heavily promoted legal music and movies) piracy replaces sales more than it encourages new sales.

CP is in the earlier category.