4 ms·
Copyright is not a property right, but it relates to ideas the same as property right relates to real life objects: both define what one can do with the subject
by klntsky 8y ago
Copyright is not a property right, but it relates to ideas the same as property right relates to real life objects: both define what one can do with the subject.
IMHO, one of the reasons why the copyright has gained success is because of existing cognitive bias[0]: people desire to treat ideas like physical objects, or as close to that as possible, because they have no other concept of what ideas are. I sometimes use figures of speech like "to own an idea" as a way to say the above succinctly, though it is indeed confusing when interpreted literally.
[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_the_instrument https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_the_instrument