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Originally Posted by pwalker8
So your argument is that it's property because you say it's property. Sorry, just because you say it's so, doesn't make it so. Copyright is a government granted monopoly, no more, no less. An individual book, be it paper or digital is property. The right to make a copy of it isn't.
Property is treated very differently in the US. Property can not be taken from someone without due process or just compensation, yet the term of copyright is set by Congress and can be changed at anytime. I'm pretty sure that you aren't going to see any laws passed by Congress saying that you can only own a house for 20 years and then anyone can move in with no compensation.
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The World Intellectual Property Organisation defines "Intellectual Property" as "a category of property that refers to creations of the mind, such as inventions; literary and artistic works; designs; and symbols, names and images used in commerce."
Intellectual property can be owned, bought and sold, just like any other property. The fact that some types of IP have a limited lifetime doesn't alter the fact that it's "property".