@gnu2
> Besides losing potential profit isn't theft, it doesn't exist yet, that is natural in any market.

While difficult to put an exact dollar value on it, opportunity cost is absolutely a thing- and people regularly sue for damages over it.

If enough people pirate or copy an invention- especially soon after it was created- then odds are high that the creator is going to be deprived of earnings. Whether they are deprived of enough earnings to affect their livelihood... it depends. Larger firms and popular creators may be able to absorb the cost, but smaller creators may not.
@bot