50 claps as a partial apology because I completely disagree with your basic premise here Jay, that somehow as purveyors of words we have a moral ownership of those words forevermore. No.

All intellectual property ownership is a way for the rich to stay rich. Laws enacted by governments lobbied by people who want to protect their own little slice of monopoly.

The fact that the little people (us here on medium) can occasionally stumble onto some earnings from this copyright is a way to placate the masses. It does nothing for society as a whole. Nobody with an ounce of sense or knowledge of history thinks individuals write, make music, or invent cool stuff because of patents and copyright. Look at fashion - no lack of creativity or investment there.

The world will be a better place when creatives get over the notion that they “own” anything. I completely agree with the three points you make about why it’s good to cite other peoples’ work - it doesn’t detract me my own work. But this nonsense of cancelling people for plagiarizing - Jesus, everybody please get a life and focus on something real.

Apologies if somebody else already wrote an eerily similar rant and I just moved a few words around.

Love your writing in general Jay!