You make him into a martyr because you agree. The other characterization is he's someone standing for theft. I don't see how one can reasonably apply your perspective to problems or disputes in the world. He's good because he's an idealist without regard? Yawn.
Copyright infringement is not, nor has it ever been, theft. Why would you push that absurd publisher propaganda?
It certainly is when you knowingly use someone's work without compensating them for it when you are required to by law. Acting like it isn't because it's an intangible thing is a semantic point and not the political statement you are making it out to be.