Originally Posted by
kingston
Correct. It's a legal fiction where innovators invoke the violence of the state to protect themselves from competition because it's easier than coming up with more creative ways of protecting their thought capital.
So, if you spent years writing a novel, you'd be fine if I just copied and sold it without paying you anything?
"Theft is just a legal fiction where owners invoke ... because it's easier than sufficiently-protecting possessions."
In other words, if I can manage to steal it, I can own it.