[LINK] Can ideas be stolen?

[Scott Howard]

On Wed, Oct 22, 2008 at 4:45 AM, Stilgherrian <stil at stilgherrian.com> wrote:

> "Can ideas be stolen"? No. Of course not.
>
> By definition, only physical objects can be stolen, i.e. possession
> taken with no intent to return.


Generally once you mention the word "definition" in one of these threads
you're going to lose out :)

 Dictionary.com defines "stolen" as :
*    Past participle of steal.
*

And the definition there of "steal" includes :
*    2. to appropriate (ideas, credit, words, etc.) without right or
acknowledgment.
*
So "by definition" (from dictionary.com) at least, yes, ideas can be stolen.

  Scott.