Which one of the following most accurately expresses the main point of the passage?

Irina on September 11, 2019

@Meredith,

The question asks us to identify the main point of the passage. The author of the passage discusses the tangible-object theory of copyright and notes that it fails to accommodate abstract, intangible things such as ideas or evanescent things such as live broadcasts of sporting events (lines 39-47). The author provides this perspective in contrast to the proponents of the tangible-object theory (lines 35-40), suggesting that his main purpose is to point out the flaws in the theory. (B) accurately summarizes this point and is thus the correct answer choice.

Let's briefly look at the other options:

(A) Copyright and other ip rights can be explained as logical extensions of the right to own concrete objects.

Incorrect. This is an accurate quote of one of the statements in the passage (lines 1-4), but it is not the main point. The purpose of the passage is not to merely provide a detailed description of the theory but to demonstrate its deficiencies.

(C) Copyright a work amounts of securing official recognition of one's intention to retain certain rights to that work.

Incorrect. This is also an accurate quote of one of the statements in the passage (lines 26-28), but this general observation fails to express the main point of the passage.

(D) Explanations of copyright and ip rights in terms of rights to ownership of tangible objects fail to consider the argument that ideas should be allowed to circulate freely.

Incorrect. This is out of scope of the passage, the author only argues that the theory prevents ideas from being copyrighted, which arguably could be interpreted to mean that the theory does, in fact, accommodate the notion that ideas should be allowed to circulate freely as copyright is a restriction on the free exchange of information.

(E) Under the tangible-objects theory of ip rights, rights of ownership are straightforwardly applicable to both ideas and physical objects.

Incorrect. This statement is false and contradicts the information in the passage. The author explicitly argues that the theory is inapplicable to intangible things, such as ideas (lines 35-39).

Let me know if this helps and if you have any further questions.

avif on May 12, 2020

@Irina
You wrote "The question asks us to identify the main point of the passage. The author of the passage discusses the tangible-object theory of copyright and notes that it fails to accommodate abstract, intangible things such as ideas or evanescent things such as live broadcasts of sporting events (lines 39-47). The author provides this perspective in contrast to the proponents of the tangible-object theory (lines 35-40), suggesting that his main purpose is to point out the flaws in the theory. (B) accurately summarizes this point and is thus the correct answer choice."
I don't see how the fact that the theory doesn't cover all cases makes the theory misguided. Perhaps there are flaws yet the authors would still hold of the theory? How can one say that this is the main point as opposed to answer A which is summarizing the theory which says that rights are extensions from concrete objects? Please help.