The core criterion for whether something can be property is whether it is economically rival, i.e. whether possession/use by one party inherently excludes other

The core criterion for whether something can be property is whether it is economically rival, i.e. whether possession/use by one party inherently excludes others from equivalent possession/use. This is true for all physical resources, including most items that people regard as "means of production", making them natural property, but isn't true for most of the things IP laws apply to.