I think the confusion is because you're conflating "ownership" with "copyright." I buy a book in the store, I own the book. You create a story, you have the ri

I think the confusion is because you're conflating "ownership" with "copyright." I buy a book in the store, I own the book. You create a story, you have the right to limit copies of that story. You can sell it, or you can let it sit unpublished in your desk. Once you sell a copy of your book, you no longer "own" that book, you sold it. If your story was an iPhone or vacation home, that would be the end of it. Most governments have decided to give you a copy right, where you limit the right to copy your work for a limited time. It's not the same as ownership. If I buy a book from you, you can't come back into my house with the police and take it back. But copyright gives you the right to come into my house with the police if I'm making unauthorized copies of your book.