Ok, so I have this new pointing device, which is causing me to screw up my posts.  This is the third and final attempt.

Thanks so much for bringing this up, I actually have heard some mashups, but I don't know too much about them, so I will probably view the presentation you mentioned in your post, Mandrik.  My idea of what mashup artists are, is akin to what collage artists do.  My Dad is actually a master of the reimagining of National Geographic magazines.  The sale of his works in the field of collage was how he paid for my musical education (on the hurdy gurdy , no, that's not right, I studied cello).

The when Gardner asked me to converse with him for a podcast on the fundamentals to intellectual property, I was kind of taken aback, but it is a topic of great interest to me, since I see it causing problems for many people and industries.  But that e-mail that Gardner read as part 3 of a two part series was actually PIVOTAL to my own understanding of intellectual property.

I think one of the main impetuses for Zeus's e-mail was my statement which was something like "only tangible objects can be property."  To be more precise I would have stated that property rights, as originally constituted, were designed only to protect physical property.  I actually, until hearing Gardner read that e-mail, didn't think of ideas as actual property.  But, miracles happen, and thus paradigm I follow regarding intellectual property has shifted.

I now see ideas and utterances thereof, be they broadcast, spoken, written, produced on the stage or screen, as property.  Now, intellectual property such as music, is something that can reside inside my brain, lying dormant for years and years, which will occasionally pop into my conscious mind, and remain there, against my will, for long periods of time.

Let's turn this into a hypothetical situation shall we.  For instance, you get this song stuck in your head, it's by Madonna, no, Cher,  nooo, I GOT it, that group who, it's was recently annouced, will be inducted into the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame.  Yes.  ABBA!

My name is Iggy Pop!  I have, against my will, been subjected to listening to "Dancing Queen" and I can't get that damn song out of my head!  In order to collect MY hall of fame award for Rock n' Roll, I was subjected to a three song set by the bubble gum singing from those chicks (admittedly attractive with an ample application of lip gloss) from Sweden.  But for years, all that runs through my head is "Fernando" and that other tripe that has been inducted into the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame <weeping>.

Since I have grown into old age, I have suffered many maladies which usually occur from advancing age, osteoporosis, cirrhosis of the liver, failing eyesight, urinary incontinence and incontinence of the bowels.  I've suffered many other maladies, due to the fact that I couldn't get "Fernando" out of my god damned head.  I've tried everything, yoga, transcendental meditation, prayer, hypnotherapy.  Nothing has worked, not even blunt force trauma to the intercranial cavity.

I attempted to bring suit against the copyright holders to get remuneration for my pain and suffering, but no court or arbitration organization would hear my case.  This is the end.  )}]BANG![{(

To be sure, there are ideas that deserve protection.  The tragic experience of Robert Kearns, is a classic example.  This dude got screwed by automobile manufacturers who stole his idea for the intermittent windshield wiper.  He eventually won in court, but was it worth it? If you are interested in learning more about the story of Kearns, check out the movie Flash of Genius, starring Greg Kinnear and Lauren Graham (meOW! [I think I hurt myself]).  This is a very well done film, and probably my favorite of the decade.