[coliveira]

Great comment. It seems interesting how people don't see the contradiction of having everything for free. Why do people think we are entitled to have Disney content, or Harry Potter books for free? Why Google and related companies seem to believe they have the right to display newspapers' content for free? Just because everything is nowadays in digital format doesn't mean that we are entitled to have a copy of it.

[njharman]

In the USA (at least) specific laws (copyright) had to be passed to make these inherently and naturally free things a protected monopoly.

[coliveira]

Every property law is unnatural. Who says that I can't own the land across my backyard?... Yes, some stupid law that was passed to invalidate my natural right of conquering that land with a club in hand. The civilized society was created by imposing these laws, and copyright laws allowed the establishment of an industry for creative works.

[Dylan16807]

First off, 'Conquering' is not a natural right.

Second, personal property and real property are different categories. Real estate is somewhat artificial, but the ownership of personal items that you can carry around is a very natural right. It comes naturally from possession and autonomy, and does not need laws to exist.

[coliveira]

But somehow every other "artificial" right, like real estate, looks OK for you other than copyright... This is what I call bending the argument for particular gain.

[Dylan16807]

I was just countering the idea that all property is artificial. And when did I say I was fully behind real estate? Maybe it's not a good idea for someone to own ten thousand acres they aren't using in any way...

Also I am actively against software patents. Poor time to make assumptions.