05-05-2003, 07:15 PM
Intellectual property is quite hard to steal. Because even though one might effortlessly copy someone else's hard work, the originator still retains the work they have done. The fundamental difference is thus that the origininator does not lose the item in question. What they lose is their exclusive claim to said item (and quite often fail to make as much money as they would like.)
A better analogy is sneaking into an art gallery with an admission price. There is a disregaurd of social norms here and dishonesty, and depriving someone of potential profit that they may be entitled to, but the original artwork is left quite intact. While this is blameworthy, most would agree it's not quite as bad as running off with the painting.
A better analogy is sneaking into an art gallery with an admission price. There is a disregaurd of social norms here and dishonesty, and depriving someone of potential profit that they may be entitled to, but the original artwork is left quite intact. While this is blameworthy, most would agree it's not quite as bad as running off with the painting.