[Leaplist] Patent reform vs terminating Intellectual Property laws [was Re: FYI, evidence of realities of IP]

[Bill Anderson]

On Tuesday 23 January 2007 12:56, Steve Litt wrote:
> On Tuesday 23 January 2007 14:31, Bill Anderson wrote:
> > On Tuesday 23 January 2007 12:27, Steve Litt wrote:
> > > > > Copying is not stealing under any rational
> > > > > definition. Copyright infringement
> > > > > it may be (depending on situation), but stealing it
> > > > > is not. To steal means to
> > > > > take something that belongs to someone. If I look
> > > > > over our shoulder on an
> > > > > exam in class and copy your answers, what have I
> > > > > *taken* from you? Nothing.
> > > > > _______________________________________________
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> > > > > Leaplist at leap-cf.org
> > > > > http://lists.leap-cf.org/mailman/listinfo/leaplist
> > > >
> > > > That is actually a very good example.  Copying off
> > > > someones exam is totally unethical, indefensible, and
> > > > could cast suspicion on a good student, but it is not
> > > > stealing.
> > >
> > > Unless, of course, the test is graded on the curve.
> >
> > So what was specifically *taken from* the one who was copied?
>
> His superior grade.

As I point out in the other email, he may have cheated you out of something, 
but it was not theft. Grades are not physical items that can be taken from 
you, and thus can not be stolen. At the rate you're going everything can be 
classifiable as theft.