The reproduction is, possibly, tangible, the IP itself is not - you cannot touch an idea, only what is generated BY the idea, sometimes...

You talk about people being robbed of their rightful compenstation - we are arguing the same side of the point - if the IP cannot be transferred, it cannot be stolen. If the exploitation is managed by licencing only AND if standardised licence agreementa are formulated that protect the originator of the IP then ALL artists might finally have a win instead of only the canny, or lucky, ones.

One point where I think we do differ is when something should enter the public domain. I happen to believe that a rich public domain is a benefit to all society, my preference is 25 years after the death of the artist, not 25 years after the first publication as it was at one point. This gives the artist an income for his/her lifetime. And when one considers how short lived most songs are this should be ample.

Another point, when does a corporation die? If a copyright holder is a notional, legal entity that cannot die then just when can anything enter the public domain - this is bad for society as a whole as it basically kills the sharing of ideas.

--=-- My credo: If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing - just ask my missus, she'll tell ya laugh --=--
You're only paranoid if you're wrong!