Hello all got a really quick question hope you can help me out with.
As I understand it many Anarcho Capitalists and even many Minarchists do not support the concept of Intellectual Property. I tend to agree with that.
What is there view then on other intangible forms of property such as various finacial instruments and securities like stocks etc? Would this not count as real property under this line of thinking?
Thanks!
Would this not count as real property under this line of thinking?
No, it would count as property of a sort, since it doesn't conflict with prior property as IP does. These don't restrict others' use of their own property, and don't require vast enforcement regimes. Nothing like IP.
"What is there view then on other intangible forms of property such as various finacial instruments and securities like stocks etc?"
How would you copy and paste stocks?
Good question.
The reality is, financial instruments like stocks and other securities aren't really intangible property. They are merely representations of ownership claims in real property. When you own a share of a company, it is literally a claim on certain things controlled by that company. The type of security determines the extent and nature of the ownership. But basically, there is no conflict of rights here...if you own a full 50% of the stock of a company, it entitles you to 50% of all the assets and income streams of the company (less liabilities, of course. And again, dependending upon the type of stock.)
The issue with IP is that it creates a new set of rights that are incompatible with real property rights.
For more, see here:
in the old days, didn't companies actually issue pieces of paper to represent your stock? A piece of paper is property.
Who's job was it to make sure no one could counterfiet the paper?