The case for intellectual property rights

A concise counter-argument to Wybo Wiersma's discussion of property and the intellectual:

1) I would say that an idea is physical in the sense that it leaves a physical trace in the brain.

2) One could even argue that an idea is like a virus that spreads through society. In other words, one could argue that an idea is a meme.

3) Objects like viruses are not alive and there are therefore no moral objections to patenting them.

4) There is therefore no moral problem in having property rights over intellectual things.