Other than in totality, piracy has never been proven to be a problem towards profit in any media.
As a matter of historical, commercial fact: piracy has helped sales in many cases, as people tend to view/listen to something and then purchase the film etc., if they really enjoy it or is collector worthy.
An example is: cassette tapes and radio.
All that taping of songs was technically 'illegal', but people still bought the albums they liked because of the exposure and/or because of the cover art.
Some of the early studios that later became the biggest labels and/or took over in Hollywood, were considered to be 'pirates' in the times.
Many classic, unusual, cult films, records and books etc., that are now out of print, can only be found via 'piracy' means.
I wouldn't have a decent Swedish Erotica, Magma, Teeny Exzeese etc., collection if it wasn't for pirating... But I've never personally been the Uploader of any.
Another example when 'pirating' is acceptable in my books:
For some reason due to modern technology, it's often a common occurrence to have a tv show bug out, or not record because of a storm somewhere, or someone getting the big bucks flicked the wrong programming switch... if the show is not available on-demand... well, I've already 'paid' to view it... so.
I have cd's that have been damaged/scratched which are out of print and the only way to get another is to pay outrageous collector prices or to pirate a discography... yet again, I've already invested in them.
The Grateful Dead were famous for allowing recording/sharing of their shows... it didn't cut into sales, nor the funds to produce other works at all.
There are a few big corporations/companies who own 'legit' porn-sharing sites that have edited scenes from others... many of those scenes may or may not be legitimately uploaded or legally shared. It seems that everyone is guilty.
I really don't think it's 'pirating' that is the issue, but what causes it in a money orientated/power over others-based world. Fascism/classism and the inequities that is created because of it, is the real problem.
Unfortunately, the contemporary religion of the times is The Economy. Manufactured 'scarcity' when there is no actual natural scarcity is a big problem and is a sociopathic tool used to manipulate and keep people in a perpetual state of fear (which is what terrorism really is).
The Economy is full blown social Orwellian Totalitarianism and is constantly bombarding people with the fear that: if they don't make enough money; in the very system that is repressing them, they get left out or behind. But ironically, by buying into the the game, it creates even more 'soft slavery' and bigotry and world problems.
People buy expensive shit even when it is awful because it gives them the illusion of accomplishment and status, even when it is fuelling all the bullshit.
As Mussolini said in his Fascist Doctrine: "Fascism will be the religion of the future"... and here we are. It's very fashionable you know. People now willingly branding themselves with it.
Porn used to be scarcely available and one had to know where to go to find it... so it was very expensive to acquire.
When I worked in adults stores peddling porn and selling dildos... it started to become more mainstream via those specialty stores and the prices drastically reduced.
Now it's highly accessible via the internet and yet, the costs of viewing have increasingly gotten out of hand. This goes completely against the natural supply and demand formula.
I know, know (based on our outdated and obsolete, inequitable wealth-system) people have to "make a living", but that's all part of the toxicity and is not the answer to a healthy and stronger human condition. It's just acknowledging the system is just a modern form of slavery.
It may have been way-back-when, but even Jimi Hendrix said that paying $1 was too much money to see him an/or to attend a full festival... even if one takes inflation into consideration (approx $20 today), that would still a relatively acceptable amount to pay to see a concert... and still too much according to Hendrix...
But I'm sure not going to pay $100+ to see a multi-millionaire, especially just to play for 45 minutes.
Basically, a collective mental illness and mass-delusion is what's going on.
It's the Zeitgeist of the perverse, consumer-based system of the Haves and Have-nots, bigoted insanity, that humans seem to have no will and/or intelligence to evolve past...
Especially considering it's the Have-nots who do most of the work and recycle most of the wealth back into the financial system as a whole-world entity and yet reap little benefit or health for all their hard work or contributions... shit like that leads to the reasons for piracy.
Maybe those who are involved with the media industries should stop supporting the money-based political systems that are designed to repress people and perpetuate a state of feeling like one is left-out to 'motivate' them. Maybe then, the sex industry will return back to being an art and represent a healthy fantasy lifestyle, instead of just another form of exploitation taking advantage of people's insecurities.
It's as if: instead of people learning to fight against the Orwellian future, we instead invested in their our own slavery and demise, believing in the illusion and mass-delusion we are 'stronger' because we've earned the luxury of being wilfully ignorant to what is really going on.
Anyways, as I stated: It's not piracy in-of-itself that is a problem, but what causes it.