A Replacement Term for 'Intellectual Property'?

femto asks: "Every time I read the words 'intellectual property', I get peeved off. It is an oxymoron. A term loaded with invalid assumptions. To even use such words is an admission that intellect can be owned and controlled like a car, clothing or other thing made of atoms. Can anyone propose a replacement for the words 'Intellectual Property'? Something that implies intellect cannot be owned. Something that implies [what Jefferson once said]: 'He who lites his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' Once we have this term, we need to get it accepted. Use it in publications. Cite these publications to get it in dictionaries. Get the term into everyday conversation and writing. So far, the best I have come up with is 'Intellectual Controls'. Can Slashdot come up with something better?"

Comments

Adjectives are our friends.

[CdotZinger]

"Intellectual Property" means "products primarily of the labor of mind," not "owned intellect." It is not a mystical incantation. It's a modified noun. Irreplaceable pieces of the communal cosmic meta-mind which your question presumes are not being stolen and hoarded away from you--as your Jefferson quote would tell you, should you choose to understand it. Those of us who live primarily on the labors of our minds already know that you, who would ask such a question, envy our baby-soft skin and want us to be the chained Princess Leia dancing for your favor in your Jabba-on-the-skiff fantasy, or, at best, to create valueless "content" to help you sell the invaluable packaging which your nobler labors produce. The language need not be further debased for the purpose of making that known. We invent the words for things, and you repeat them--that is the division of labor. "Intellectual property" it is. Thanks for asking.