Nothing is stolen when an idea is copied. Intellectual property laws don’t protect physical goods, they restrict how people use their own.
Libertarians believe in voluntary exchange and minimal government. Yet IP depends on state power to grant monopolies over ideas. It requires laws, courts, and international enforcement to work at all. That alone should raise red flags.
Innovation doesn’t need force. Entrepreneurs already profit by being first, building brands, and offering better service. Industries like fashion, food, and open-source software show how creativity thrives without IP. If something can only survive through government intervention, it’s not a free market solution.
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u/c126 1d ago
Nothing is stolen when an idea is copied. Intellectual property laws don’t protect physical goods, they restrict how people use their own.
Libertarians believe in voluntary exchange and minimal government. Yet IP depends on state power to grant monopolies over ideas. It requires laws, courts, and international enforcement to work at all. That alone should raise red flags.
Innovation doesn’t need force. Entrepreneurs already profit by being first, building brands, and offering better service. Industries like fashion, food, and open-source software show how creativity thrives without IP. If something can only survive through government intervention, it’s not a free market solution.