Wrong. Under capitalism, no one has the right to sell anything. That would require someone to be obligated to buy it. One has only the right to offer something for sale, which is not the same as the right to sell it. Right, that would be fine in my book <G> Not stealing. Of course they wouldn't retain their (commercial) value. There is nothing wrong with that. Value is governed by SUPPLY/DEMAND, NOTHING else - not the amount of skill or effort that went into producing something, nor it's beauty or performance. Back to square one. It's not stealing, because there is nothing to steal. On a related note, it someone DID just look at his code, then went home and wrote their own, then that would be ok? What if they had a really good memory, and could replicate his code almost exactly, would that be ok too? Just how different would someone else's code have to be to not be considered "stealing"? Is your philosophy capable of providing a universal answer? I highly doubt it. That's different. I wouldn't "expect to get paid" unless a contract was created prior to me starting the work. Then, if my backer didn't pay, he'd be in breach of contract, legally and morally in the wrong. If you and I agreed that I would mow your lawn for x amount of money, I would be entitled to said money once I'm finished. But if I just come out of the blue and mow your lawn, I have no right to expect any payment, no matter how much work I put into it, and you are not obligated to pay me, even if you are happy with the work. Artists who do art for art's sake will continue to make art. Programmers will continue to write software, for their own use, to adverise their skills, and to make money in related ways such as providing support or customised applications. To say that people wouldn't create "intellectual property" is ridiculous. How can it be wrong "technically"?? (Unless you screw it up??) Morally, sorry your opinion doesn't make it so, and legally... well "legally" has to do with who can afford the most lawyers (ehm ehm RIAA, MPAA... you didn't REALLY think all that money goes to the artists for their hard work, did you??)...so that means nothing, really.