Earlier quoted context omitted.
Of course I agree that there are some differences, but they are the same with respect to the sated role of government. Physical theft deprives the owner of physical property (where this right is respected by law. IP theft deprives the owner of intellectual property ( where this right is respected by law). People can and do make arguments against both IP and physical property, but the role of government the the same i…
as hug correctly points out, you have accidentally made a circular argument; without the regulatory regime, the thing that 'ip theft' deprives the owner of doesn't exist in the first place so the role of government is quite different in the two cases: it creates 'intellectual property', in the sense of 'what the owner is deprived of by so-called ip theft', while physical property exists in its own right if we instead…
RE Cars:
I think the analogy is apt, but you you ignore the time an effort that goes into creating one. Who would build or buy a car if someone could just get in and drive off.
The same is true for literature. Why spend years writing a book, play, or song, if the first person that hears or sees it reproduces it for everyone and you recieve nothing.
It is just like spending time building a car for someone to drive off with it.
Your argument focuses on the user, not the creator.
>and if someone else gets in my novel and drives off with it, why, i can still read it as easily as before.
Thats all an well for the consumer. The car thief doesnt care either, as long as there are cars to steal and idiots buying cars.
You might argue that peope will create literature out of innate desire,as an argument how screwing them over wont impact incetives, but how is that different from physical property.
You think someone has a deep drive to write the next great ammercian novel, but not grow food, so it is ok to steal one, but not the other. What if people want to grow food, does that then justify stealing it?
I just think it is extremely hypocritical to dismiss IP creators while protecting the car makers or food growers.
IF someone wants to create IP for free, grow food for free, or build cars for free- They CAN!