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Question Title Posted By Question Date
copyrights again johnny Friday, November 1, 2013

Question:

http://blog.nonpeccabis.com/search/label/Copyright


i just want to know what is your opinion on what is being said in this article

thank you



Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), CCL, LTh, DD, LNDC

Dear Johnny:

I skimmed the article. It appears that the author is trying really hard to justify stealing other people's intellectual property. He claims that intellectual property cannot be stolen:

Morally, digital replication and distribution cannot be theft or robbery. Intellectual property cannot properly exist, as matters of the intellect cannot be possessed or stolen, and property must be possessed by definition and it can be stolen.

That is a stupid statement. One can certainly steal someone else's idea and claim it for his own (plagiarism), or steal one's product of his intellect (e.g., books, articles, artwork, photography, etc.) instead of buying it depriving the author the right to profit from his own work.

Using someone else's intellectual property without permission, or that which is allowable by what Copyright law calls fair use, is a violation of the Seventh Commandment to not steal.

Note: I cannot recommend that website in any event because the blog appears to be anonymous. Those on the Internet who refuse to identify themselves should never be used as a resource.

The owner of this blog is listed as one Joseph O'Neill, but there is no information. If you look at the so-called bio, Joseph O'Neill is listed as a female. That makes the veracity of this blog to be even more suspect. 

If you have a specific question about copyright law, or the moral theology behind the concept of copyright, I will be happy to answer.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary


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