Reading ComprehensionDifficulty: Easy

PT130 S2 P3 Q14 Explanation

Tangible-object Theory

A free, expert breakdown of this official LSAT Reading Comprehension question.

TopicsMain PointLaw

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Passage

Proponents of the tangible-object theory of copyright argue that copyright and similar intellectual-property rights can be explained as logical extensions of the right to own concrete, tangible objects. This view depends on the claim that every copyrightable work can be manifested in some physical form, such as a manuscript or a videotape. the object, copy it, or destroy it. One may also transfer ownership of it to another.

In creating a new and original object from materials that one owns, one becomes the owner of that object and thereby acquires all of the rights that ownership entails. But if the owner transfers ownership of the object, the full complement of rights is not necessarily transferred to the new owner; instead, for the production of similar or analogous things-for example, a public performance of a musical score.

According to proponents of the tangible-object theory, its chief advantage is that it justifies intellectual property rights without recourse to the widely accepted but problematic supposition that one can own abstract, intangible things such as ideas. But while this account seems plausible for copyrightable entities that do, in fact, have enduring tangible copyright unless the poet can be said to already own the ideas expressed in the work.

What this question is testing

Main Point

Your task

Capture the passage's overall primary point — the claim everything else supports.

Common trap

Answers that are true but too narrow (a single paragraph) or too broad (beyond the passage's scope).

Winning move

Summarize the whole passage in one sentence first, then match it to a choice.

Reading along? Open the full official question in LawHub — we show a fragment here and keep the reasoning in our own words.

The question
14.

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

Answer choices

  1. Opposing Point8% picked this

    Copyright and other intellectual-property rights can be explained as logical extensions of the right to

    This is the assertion of proponents of the tangible-object theory (first paragraph).

  2. Correct81% picked this

    Attempts to explain copyright and similar intellectual-property rights purely in terms of rights to ownership of physical

    Why this is right

    This is supported in the second and third paragraphs.

    Skill tested: Main Point · how this choice captures the passage's function is the move to repeat next time.

  3. Too Narrow / Opposing Point2% picked this

    Copyrighting a work amounts to securing official recognition of one's intention to retain certain rights

    While this is true (second paragraph), this is only part of the larger argument put forward by tangible-object theorists.

  4. Out of Scope6% picked this

    Explanations of copyright and other intellectual-property rights in terms of rights to ownership of tangible objects fail to consider the argument that ideas

    Out of Scope The passage does not discuss the argument that ideas should be allowed to circulate freely.

  5. Trap4% picked this

    Under the tangible-object theory of intellectual property, rights of ownership are straight forwardly applicable to both

    Opposing Point / Unsupported The purpose of this passage is to undermine the tangible-object theory. Furthermore, rights of ownership of ideas are not straightforwardly applied but rather argued to exist by logical extension of the right to own concrete, tangible objects.

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