Art,
I wasn't making a legal point at all. Intellectual property law--ineffectual tool that it is--only offers a bit of protection to certain commercial interests. My point was more substantial: What moral right does anyone have to take the work of another and present it as his own? When a concept developed by one man is presented by another, I believe there is an obligation to announce loudly and clearly that the idea is not original and should be credited to the original source. I am all too aware that imitators everywhere like to say that there is nothing new under the sun, but this isn't true. Some people create; most do not. My personal view is that the work of those who create is deserving of the highest honor and respect. For example, I would name buildings, parks, and watches after these creators and not after politicians or ball players or race car drivers. Likewise, my personal view is that those who steal the creations of others are deserving of dishonor and disrespect.
Is there something about this view that you think reflects "ire"? I thought I was expressing values.
Park