--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think the term \"intellectual property\"…" description: "\"I think the term \"intellectual property\" should be avoided, not because it's a bad term, but because it mixes things up that shouldn't be mixed up. The..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4df/linus-torvalds-1512_avoided_i-think-the-term-intellectual-property-s_442063.jpg" --- # I think the term "intellectual property" should be… ![“I think the term "intellectual property" should be avoided, not because it's a bad term, but because it mixes things up that shouldn't be mixed up. There are different forms, and they hardly have anything to do with each other.” quote by Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4df/linus-torvalds-1512_avoided_i-think-the-term-intellectual-property-s_442063.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4df/linus-torvalds-1512_avoided_i-think-the-term-intellectual-property-s_442063.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4df/linus-torvalds-1512_avoided_i-think-the-term-intellectual-property-s_442063.jpg) > “I think the term "intellectual property" should be avoided, not because it's a bad term, but because it mixes things up that shouldn't be mixed up. There are different forms, and they hardly have anything to do with each other.” [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Avoid the term “intellectual property” because it conflates distinct legal concepts, leading to confusion. **In simple terms:** IP mixes unrelated ideas. Key Takeaway Use precise language for legal matters. Themes law technology communication Mood analytical critical Type technical educational When to use this quote - software development - legal drafting - policy making - education curricula Key Concepts property rights software licensing Questions to Reflect On - How can we clarify complex legal concepts? - What alternatives better describe software rights? A Different Perspective Precise terms may still be misunderstood by laypeople. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Intellectual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellectual/) [Intellectual property](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellectual-property/) [Property](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/property/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [I spend a lot more time than any person should have to talking with lawyers and thinking about intellectual property issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/i-spend-a-lot-more-time-than-any-person-should-have-to-talking-with/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [We can license our intellectual property to new customers and expand agreements with existing ones over time and more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajeev-suri/we-can-license-our-intellectual-property-to-new-customers-and-expand/) [Rajeev Suri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajeev-suri/) > [“Working a Patent is not as easy as it sounds”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kalyan-c-kankanala/working-a-patent-is-not-as-easy-as-it-sounds/) [Kalyan C. 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If a music industry executive claims I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janis-ian/i-don-t-pretend-to-be-an-expert-on-intellectual-property-law-but-i-do/) [Janis Ian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janis-ian/) > [“Place your stake in the ground, Intellectual Property is the lifestyle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anyaele-sam-chiyson/place-your-stake-in-the-ground-intellectual-property-is-the-lifestyle/) Anyaele Sam Chiyson > [Throughout history, musicians have never counted on intellectual property really getting them rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-popper/throughout-history-musicians-have-never-counted-on-intellectual/) [John Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-popper/) > [You cannot steal somebody's intellectual property. 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It's the right way to do things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/i-think-fundamentally-open-source-does-tend-to-be-more-stable/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [I used to be interested in Windows NT, but the more I see it, the more it looks like traditional Windows with a stabler…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/i-used-to-be-interested-in-windows-nt-but-the-more-i-see-it-the-more/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [I think that freely available software can not only keep up with the evolution of commercial software, but often exceed what you can do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/i-think-that-freely-available-software-can-not-only-keep-up-with-the/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [Programmers are in the enviable position of not only getting to do what they want to, but because the end result is so important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/programmers-are-in-the-enviable-position-of-not-only-getting-to-do/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [The NIH syndrome (Not Invented Here) is a disease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/the-nih-syndrome-not-invented-here-is-a-disease/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [The correct form factor for a laptop is obviously 12" and 2 lbs, and I don't understand why everybody gets that wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/the-correct-form-factor-for-a-laptop-is-obviously-12-and-2-lbs-and-i/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [Hmmm, completely a-religious - atheist. 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