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<pubDate>Fri, 10 Dec 2010 19:39:00 PST</pubDate>
<title>Should Superhero Superpowers Be Considered Property?</title>
<dc:creator>Mike Masnick</dc:creator>
<link>http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20101209/09505912211/should-superhero-superpowers-be-considered-property.shtml</link>
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<description><![CDATA[ We've had many, many debates around here over the question of whether or not "intellectual property" is <a href="http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20101014/02384511424/would-copyright-work-better-if-it-was-treated-more-like-property.shtml">actually property</a>. So it seems like many of you might enjoy this article, sent in by <a href="http://www.techdirt.com/profile.php?u=johnjac">johnjac</a>, where some attorneys with <i>way too much</i> free time on their hands <a href="http://lawandthemultiverse.com/2010/12/06/superpowers-as-personal-property/" target="_blank">discuss whether or not superpowers possessed by super heroes should be considered property or not</a>.  I will give you just this short snippet as a taste, which I assume will make you rush over to read the whole thing:
<blockquote><i>
If Superman uses the power of a blue sun to bestow superpowers on another person, is that a taxable asset transfer?&nbsp; Who would want to try to collect?
<br /><br />
If two superheroes marry, share a power, then later divorce, could one be forced to give up the power during the division of assets?&nbsp; Does it matter who had the power originally?&nbsp; Even though the shared power may be a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rivalry_%28economics%29">non-rival good</a>, one of the two superheroes may still have a claim to exclusivity.&nbsp; Perhaps the power is a trademark ability of one character, or maybe they signed a superhero pre-nuptial agreement that determined the disposition of any shared abilities.
<br /><br />
If one superhero lends a power to another (or to a normal person), does that superhero have an implied right to its return?&nbsp; In other words, is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bailment">bailment </a>created?&nbsp; I think the answer here is yes.
</i></blockquote>
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