Intellectual property seems more like a state invention than God’s idea

The spirits of John Wycliff and Brother Andrew hover over this shameful situation compelling us to act. If the enemy forces were a state religion like the Church of England or an oppressive government like China or Iran we would think nothing of risking our lives to bring the Bible to those who can’t access it otherwise. But in this case because the bad guys have the words “Bible Society” in their name we’re supposed to sit on our thumbs.

via Illegal sources of the Portuguese Bible in digital format | lingamish.

Please read the whole amazing post.

“Bible Society” in the name doesn’t change the fact that it is state monopoly laws backed by a courts and policing regime that are the enemy.  In fact, this makes me think of a new argument against “intellectual property” in general for Christians.  If you don’t think God’s word can be copyrighted, maybe we need to question the general principle of copyright in the first place.

5 thoughts on “Intellectual property seems more like a state invention than God’s idea

  1. Pingback: Feast on hummingbird tongues and throw scraps to the rabble | lingamish

  2. Michael Duchemin

    Bobber, thanks for the link to the article by Poythress! I read it through in its entirety, and think he made his case pretty well. I imagine (without doing a full scale “scientific” survey) that his position (which I think is correct) is a substantial minority among pastors (even theonomic/theocratic ones).

    I would love to see more interaction on this issue from some of the heavyweights. Perhaps an issue of St. Anne’s Pub or a book where the proponents of each side make their cases and then respond and cross examine each other?

    Reply
  3. Bobber

    I don’t expect anything like that to happen anytime soon. I think you are entirely correct that it is a substantial minority view. There are too many pastors who are making good money from copyrighted works and don’t see any need to question it.

    Reply

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