Is the price of intellectual property worth it?

[Anony_Mous]

Intellectual property is worldly knowledge gained, claimed, and invested - often for one’s self-esteem. For many it is their showpiece of richness.

Matthew 19:24 “Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

Mark 8:36 “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37 Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?”

Matthew 10:26 “So do not be afraid of them (non believers), for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.”…30 “And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.”

WARNING: How you respond here will reflect the soul’s reason.

 

[Petaro]

I have often found that it is better for the soul to be humbly wise than arrogantly foolish.

 

[Maddie26]

WARNING: Everything I say reflects my soul’s reason. As we speak and act, so we are, bringing treasures or otherwise out of our storehouse. This reminded me of the “FACT” Dan Brown put in front of his not- quite facts.

I have a different understanding of intellectual property than you, I think. I see it as work. If someone builds you a house then you pay them. If they write you a book, you should pay them. If someone pretends to build a house or write a book in order to defraud the craftsman then that is a sin. I fail to see how writing a book is more inherently sinful than building the best house you are able. Both are crafts. Both require work and skill. Some people build houses for immoral use, some write immoral books. It is intention that matters, and I’m talking about honest intention, not an excuse.

Intellectual property also applies, for example, to the poems written by Pope John Paul 2. Would you say he wrote them for self esteem or a showpiece of riches? Or that they were the result of worldly knowledge? Same goes for every book written by a Saint. Putting a price on your work is not sinful, it is fair. If I try and claim revenue from St JP2’s poems… now that is unfair, which is why IP laws exist.

In our society some few attain fame, for good or ill. Not only intellectuals are famous, in fact, precious few. Fewer still the famous faithful, though they do exist- Mother Teresa for one.

Having money is not ipso facto sinful. It makes it harder, which is why so many saints have lived under vows of poverty, though there have been rich Saints, even to Kings and Queens. Still, the Bible warns we ought not to muzzle an ox while he is working. A fair day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay.

I take it, however, that you have a very specific circumstance in mind. If you share it you may get clearer and more pertinent answers than my ramblings

 

[Beryllos]

Intellectual property is worldly knowledge gained, claimed, and invested…

This worldly knowledge is usually obtained by hard work. Should not the worker be compensated? While it may be rightly said that no one owns truth or understanding or beauty, we must provide for the needs of those who reveal these things to us for our benefit, people like writers, computer programmers, researchers, artists, musicians, and teachers. They need food, shelter, and security just as much as the people who make and supply material goods which we need.

You have made a good point that Scripture warns us about becoming too attached to things of this world. Indeed, as we own property, either material or intellectual, we should make sure it does not own us. It should not keep us from obeying the Commandments to love God and love one another.

 

[St_Francis]

1Timothy 5:18: A worker is worthy of his hire.

The basic reason Communism is wrong and condemned by the Cchurch is this point. One of the 4 sins calling to Heaven is defrauding the worker of his wages.

 

[Anony_Mous]

Intellectual property is worldly knowledge gained, **claimed, and invested - **often for one’s self-esteem. For many it is their showpiece of richness.

 

[Beryllos]

Anony Mous;13610463:

Intellectual property is worldly knowledge gained, claimed, and invested

• often for one’s self-esteem. For many it is their showpiece of richness.

You said it once. Why say it again?

Perhaps you should tell us where the difficulty lies. What’s worrying you?

Are you thinking along the lines of the universal destination of goods? If so, let’s review the Church teaching on it. From the CCC:
I. The Universal Destination and the Private Ownership of Goods

2402 In the beginning God entrusted the earth and its resources to the common stewardship of mankind to take care of them, master them by labor, and enjoy their fruits. The goods of creation are destined for the whole human race. However, the earth is divided up among men to assure the security of their lives, endangered by poverty and threatened by violence. The appropriation of property is legitimate for guaranteeing the freedom and dignity of persons and for helping each of them to meet his basic needs and the needs of those in his charge. It should allow for a natural solidarity to develop between men.

2403 The right to private property, acquired or received in a just way, does not do away with the original gift of the earth to the whole of mankind. The universal destination of goods remains primordial, even if the promotion of the common good requires respect for the right to private property and its exercise.

2404 “In his use of things man should regard the external goods he legitimately owns not merely as exclusive to himself but common to others also, in the sense that they can benefit others as well as himself.” The ownership of any property makes its holder a steward of Providence, with the task of making it fruitful and communicating its benefits to others, first of all his family.

2405 Goods of production—material or immaterial—such as land, factories, practical or artistic skills, oblige their possessors to employ them in ways that will benefit the greatest number. Those who hold goods for use and consumption should use them with moderation, reserving the better part for guests, for the sick and the poor.

2406 Political authority has the right and duty to regulate the legitimate exercise of the right to ownership for the sake of the common good.

 

[Anony_Mous]

You said it once. Why say it again?

Are you thinking along the lines of the universal destination of goods? If so, let’s review the Church teaching on it. From the CCC:…

The bold highlight is plain and simple yet…

John 14:17 “the Spirit of truth. The world (non-believers) cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”

 

[Maddie26]

You said it once. Why say it again?

Perhaps you should tell us where the difficulty lies. What’s worrying you?

I also don’t get where you’re going with this. If people are misunderstanding you then why not explain? We’re only trying to help.

 

[Anony_Mous]

I also don’t get where you’re going with this. If people are misunderstanding you then why not explain? We’re only trying to help.

I have explained it with my words as well as those from scripture.
I don’t need help to understand what I wrote, and what the scriptures say. It is clear to me.

The question is, why do you not understand it?
What parts (words/phrase), specifically, do you not understand, or avoid to understand?

 

[Maddie26]

I have explained it with my words as well as those from scripture.
I don’t need help to understand what I wrote, and what the scriptures say. It is clear to me.

The question is, why do you not understand it?
What parts (words/phrase), specifically, do you not understand, or avoid to understand?

Of course you understand what you wrote. Correct me if I’m wrong but I thought you were saying that people should not be paid for intellectual work because they are proud and self serving. Am I misunderstanding you? I got the idea when you replied with bolded sections that that we’d missed the point. If we were avoiding understanding we wouldn’t be asking for clarification.

 

[Beryllos]

The bold highlight is plain and simple yet…

John 14:17 “the Spirit of truth. The world (non-believers) cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”

I have a hunch as to which side you see yourself on.

Look, I could quote Sacred Scripture too, I can think of a few zingers, but I don’t use the Bible to show how smart I am or to put other people down. The same for prayers, but I do sincerely pray that your thread brings about some good. Fare thee well.

 

[Anony_Mous]

Of course you understand what you wrote. Correct me if I’m wrong but I thought you were saying that people should not be paid for intellectual work because they are proud and self serving. Am I misunderstanding you? …

Yes.

…I got the idea when you replied with bolded sections that that we’d missed the point…

Yes.

…If we were avoiding understanding we wouldn’t be asking for clarification.

The avoidance is about what is highlighted in bold lettering. All that has been posted is about protecting and justifying the claiming and investing of one’s worldly intellect towards ego-self validation.

Claiming and investing in money and property (and worldly intellect) to validate false-self (ego) as rich (worthy of self-praise).

 

[St_Francis]

Yes.

Yes.

The avoidance is about what is highlighted in bold lettering. All that has been posted is about protecting and justifying the claiming and investing of one’s worldly intellect towards ego-self validation.

Claiming and investing in money and property (and worldly intellect) to validate false-self (ego) as rich (worthy of self-praise).

You seem to assume that the only motive for producing a piece of intellectual property is to enhance one’s self esteemor other self-serving, egotistical reason. Is that what you think?

 

[Anony_Mous]

You seem to assume that the only motive for producing a piece of intellectual property is to enhance one’s self esteem or other self-serving, egotistical reason. Is that what you think?

My quote “Intellectual property is worldly knowledge gained, claimed, and invested - often for one’s self-esteem. For** many** it is their showpiece of richness.”

 

[Maddie26]

Is IP only worldly knowledge? What about writers of spiritual books? Should Fulton Sheen not have written books? Should he not have charged money for them? Did JP2 sin in publishing his poems? I think you have a very specific case in mind and want us to guess.

If you work then you deserve to be paid for you labour. Why is mental labour not worthy of the same remuneration as physical labour? Believing, as the Bible states, that a workman deserves his wages does not make us unbelievers.

The world would be a sorry place without the intellectual riches of the past. These things are part of our patrimony. I value the great gifts with which God has blessed artists throughout the ages, as does the Church, who owns most of them and charges admission to see them

 

[Anony_Mous]

Is IP only worldly knowledge? What about writers of spiritual books? Should Fulton Sheen not have written books? Should he not have charged money for them? Did JP2 sin in publishing his poems? I think you have a very specific case in mind and want us to guess.

If you work then you deserve to be paid for you labour. Why is mental labour not worthy of the same remuneration as physical labour? Believing, as the Bible states, that a workman deserves his wages does not make us unbelievers.

The world would be a sorry place without the intellectual riches of the past. These things are part of our patrimony. I value the great gifts with which God has blessed artists throughout the ages, as does the Church, who owns most of them and charges admission to see them

No no no!
The OP is about claiming and investing in intellectual pride (ego-self) above anything else. The soul’s reason becomes a slave to the ego-self, instead of God.

 

[Maddie26]

I’m clearly not going to understand what you mean. Good luck and God bless.

 

[St_Francis]

My quote “Intellectual property is worldly knowledge gained, claimed, and invested - often for one’s self-esteem. For** many** it is their showpiece of richness.”

And other forms of work never lead to these bad ends?

 

[Anony_Mous]

And other forms of work never lead to these bad ends?

Yes they do, workaholism is a case in point. But the thread is about worldly intellect used as the primary purpose and reason for validating the ego-self, and in turn effecting the soul.