Quote:
Originally Posted by PKFFW
I find it hard to take seriously anyone who puts forward the argument that intellectual property is anything like Physical property and therefore should be treated the same.
Let's take a look...
You have an idea, which, if you want to make money from it (which is really what copyright is about after all), you put out into the world. How do you actually stop anyone from "stealing" it and taking that idea and doing absolutely anything they want with it? The answer is, you can't. It simply isn't possible.
You own a house. How do you stop anyone from stealing it or doing absolutely anything they want with it? You get a shot gun and shoot anyone you suspect may want to do so. (which, incidentally, is exactly what a large percentage of the population of the USA plans to do should the situation arise)
So it is clear IP and PP are not at all comparable. Those who put forward that argument show either
A: an ignorance so profound there is no point discussing the issue with them. This I find very difficult to believe but the possibility can not be discarded out of hand. Or;
B: an inability to form a cogent and rational argument to support their view that copyright should extend forever and so resort to a false equivalency so profound as to render it laughable.
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It's a very different thing to say that principles concerning personal property could also work with intellectual property than it is to say that they're the same thing. Therefore that profoundly ignorant person might actually have a cogent and rational argument.
The usual terminology for offering an argument against a modified version of someone else's argument is "straw man argument. Even though I'm profoundly ignorant and unable to form a cogent and rational argument I do know that. And since I was one of those who suggested that those things physical and intellectual property have in common might be useful in this discussion I'm glad I made you laugh.
I have my opinions on copyright and they're pretty strongly held but I do realize that they're just opinions. I'm willing to accept that intelligent people can and do disagree with me. I've seen much honest thought on both sides of this discussion. And a bit of chicanery here and there as well.
Barry