So it sounds like money might help then? I could also pitch in a little, I don’t mind giving back some if you’re willing to maintain the instance. $100 is a pretty low bar to reach. If you are interested in maintaining this Lemmy, then perhaps spend a little time to plan out what resources you would need. Be it volunteer efforts, research, or cash. The community may well step up if you make a post detailing your needs.

Of course, it is entirely reasonable to discontinue the instance if it is too much of a headache or no longer what you prefer to do! I’m just pointing out that if you can present a clear concept of the help you need, you may find that it is available.

The creators of the content are only one part of the equation. There are also the funders and distributors of content, and the consumers of content, all of whom have an ethical stake in this. The DMCA is a prime example of something created through lobbying by the funders and distributors that harms the consumers. In the unfortunate landscape surrounding intellectual property that we live in, I think it is far more delusional to believe that pirating is unethical. I would far rather live in a world where that wasn’t the case, this just doesn’t happen to be one.