[JohnLocke4]

Preventing someone from getting value out of their work is theft - not matter how it is done. Copying a dead person's work isn't theft because a dead person can't create value, but stealing a dead person's car is still theft, because something of value is gone.

Stealing a car you were never going to buy and making an exact replica of a car you were never going to buy is two entirely different things.

[davedx]

> Preventing someone from getting value out of their work is theft

No, it's not. You (or random large media corps) do not get to unilaterally redefine words of the English language like that.

Pass whatever laws you want about it, enforce them however you feel is appropriate, but don't try to redefine language itself to push your agenda.

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/theft

[kube-system]

"IP theft" is not counter to that definition. Intellectual property is a 'something'. That definition, does not require depriving someone else of something. As another valid example, see "identity theft".

Furthermore, English is not prescriptive; dictionaries are a lagging reference of observed use... so yes, the users of English absolutely do get to redefine language. That's how all modern English words originated.

And finally, if your dictionary doesn't account for "IP theft", you have simply found an incorrect dictionary, because that usage is undeniably widespread -- whether or not you agree with the concept politically.

[JohnLocke4]

English is not a programming language. You're only disagreeing with my articulation here, which is irrelevant in relation to the thing of the matter - namely what I mean rather than what I type into the keyboard physically.

[tmerc]

Ways to prevent someone from extracting value out of their work that are clearly not theft:

- murder

- kidnapping

- ddosing their site so they can't sell things

- carpet bombing their reviews with 1 star

- filing an injunction blocking the sale of their product on bogus ip claims (aka copyright trolling)

- gaslighting them to the point where they think the idea is worthless

- being the owner of IP that prevents them from selling their IP

Probably others but I think that's enough to show your definition is wrong.

[JohnLocke4]

All theft is preventing people from getting value out of their work, but not all preventing people from getting value out of their work is theft.

I'm not trying to make a definition, just trying to convey my opinion. I suggest we discuss our opinions rather than trying to codify English