Quote:
Originally Posted by issybird
I don't even see why we have to concede this point. Words have different meanings in different contexts. Chattel property and intellectual property are two different things, no matter how much people would like to conflate them, especially in regard to digital media. There's no reason why the word theft can't describe both physical taking in regard to chattels and unauthorized and uncompensated distribution in regard to intellectual property.
Not calling a thief a thief concedes much of the argument up front, in my opinion, and why let the thieves dictate the terms?
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(emphasis mine)
Issybird, I'm sorry, and I don't want to make anyone think that I approve of copyright infringement, but there is a reason why it can't describe both. The reason is that words matter, and the definitions of words matter.
If you can find a definition in a recognized dictionary that allows the word "theft" to apply to intellectual property, I'll concede the point. I couldn't find one.
Shari