[mfuzzey]

"stolen" should not be used in conjunction with IP, "infringed" if you like.

To steal is to deny the original owner access to their property. That is true for physical objects, if I steal your wallet or your car you no longer have it.

But if I illegally copy some of your IP you still have access to it. Sure you may experience some financial prejudice from that but you still have it.

[joquarky]

Agree.

The fact that IP is unnatural and relatively new is probably the reason why so many people can't seem to apply the proper terminology around it.