Comment by JumpCrisscross
6 hours ago
> but it is a social contract governing things that can't be easily copied
I think it’s fair to argue this makes data something that should not be able to be owned. But saying it can’t be owned is plain wrong.
6 hours ago
> but it is a social contract governing things that can't be easily copied
I think it’s fair to argue this makes data something that should not be able to be owned. But saying it can’t be owned is plain wrong.
You're right. We can implement social contracts however we please.
But regarding the particular implementation as codified in US law (and I think elsewhere also), property rights do not extend to data.
> regarding the particular implementation as codified in US law (and I think elsewhere also), property rights do not extend to data
Maybe not in general, though I’m curious for a source. Practically speaking, what separates data and information is a necessarily subjective exercise. And information absolutely can be property.
What kind of source would satisfy you?
There are laws about what happens to me if I break into your house and steal your property. I can therefore find you case precedent indicating that a TV is property because people have been charged with violating those laws when they steal a TV.
But I can't present to you the absence of such a thing. We have trademark, copyright, and patent law, but as far as I'm aware there's no crosstalk with things that talk about property, things like armed robbery.
1 reply →