Code not physical property

So if our code isn't a physical thing and can't be stolen, can we say the same thing for other digital files, like movies and music?

Interesting that they did agree that digital money (wire transfers) is property. So one set of bits is theft but another set isn't.

Now <i>that</i> is an interesting monkey in the wrench. A 2nd Circuit opinion that allows that<p><i>"He (the defendant) argues that:<p>[1] the source code was not a “stolen” “good” within the meaning of the NSPA, and<p>[2] the source code was not “related to or included in a product that is produced for or placed in interstate or foreign commerce” within the meaning of the EEA.<p>The judgement of the district court is reversed."</i><p>Which narrows the opinion to the definitions in the NSPA and EEA but I think some creative lawyering should be able to get this into things like code to compress images for example.<p>It will be interesting to see if anyone can use this as leverage in the ongoing copyright/patent/IP discussion.

It would be lovely to read an IP lawyer's opinion on this story's implications.<p>Does this mean that a programmer working at a firm can walk away with code without breaking any laws?

I like that he got off, but does that means for the hackers that took googles code. What happens to all patents on software.