What is intellectual stealing? Intellectual stealing can come in two forms: piracy and plagiarism. The contemporary definition of piracy is an unauthorized use or reproduction of another’s work. Plagiarism, on the other hand, is similar. Plagiarism is the practice of taking someone else’s work or ideas and passing them off as one’s own.
Some people have the misconception that stealing refers only to the physical. They believe that for so long as they are not robbing another person of money or material possessions, they are not violating the 8th commandment. This kind of thinking is erroneous. Sometimes, being robbed of intangible property can be more damaging than being robbed of physical possessions.
If you want to adhere to God’s law, be mindful when it comes to using the intellectual property of others. Just because a person’s creation is intangible does not mean it is any less valuable than their tangible possessions.
