Yeah some people don't get that "property" is just as much a constructed concept as everything else is. It is an agreement/contract between people that is enforced by other people (e.g. the government).

Owning a home might seem more "real" than owning some IP, but it is just an agreement, and without a proper enforcement, anybody could enter and live in your house (which is what actually happens with squatters in some European countries where you're not allowed to kick them out by yourself and police don't care).

So property rights were never "real" (inherently) — they only become real when somebody kicks your ass for violating them. That's the only real thing about it.

True, but "this is my home and you cannot have it" is still quite a bit different from "this is my idea and you cannot use it". ;)

IP law is more analogous to zoning in that it fixes the supply of land that can be used for a particular purpose.

I know everyone gets a stupid stick up their ass over property ownership and "rent seeking" but property ownership is just ownership of "something". You can rent seek any investment. The whole point of much every professional license is that we all agree to let these people "rent seek" because they've proved they don't suck at the subject.

> How is [IP] any more or less rent seeking than property ownership?

Property ownership restricts what you can do on my property.

IP restricts what you can do on anyone's property, including your own.