Imagine a scenario where a replaced ad actually degraded the website's performance more so than the website's own ads, which is not all that far-fetched, and users end up blaming the website for having crappy ads.
Additionally, what if Google and Mozilla started doing that with their browsers, would you still be okay with it?
Not according to copyright law. Just because you have a computer (with a browser) doesn't give you the right to do what you want with someone else's content.
Once you send information out into the world. you DONT own it. Real ownership is the ability to exert control over something. Divulged information cannot be controlled by the original source.
"Once you send information out into the world. you DONT own it."
This sounds like someone who believes that if something comes up in a Google image search, it's free game for anyone to use.
Your variation of the old "if you don't like it why don't you just move" argument is the more childish response.
Besides, enforcing this intellectual property racket is paid for by my tax dollars. Lets call those "contributions" to the cause my dues.
"This sounds like someone who believes that if something comes up in a Google image search, it's free game for anyone to use."
Exactly. You imply that it is written in stone that ip is a sacred thing. Not everyone agrees.
Copyright itself isn't a contractual agreement, even though a SaaS TOS may lay out copyright agreements. Websites typically list their copyright publicly, and claiming negligence (typically) isn't considered a valid defense to infringement.
Am I allowed to scribble in a book that I bought? Rip out the pages?
Your response speaks to the insanity people have become accustomed to in IP law.
Unless it's for fair use, you can't photocopy your textbook, for example. I think you may just be learning about the nuances of intellectual property for the first time.
According to US law, I am also allowed to make copies for personal use, and several other "fair use" cases, absolutely regardless of licenses.
Precisely. Simply owning a book doesn't mean "I can do anything I want to it".
The same applies to copyright material online - just because you own a computer doesn't mean you own the intellectual property on it. You're free to scribble on your computer case though.
You can do anything you want to the physical book. You can scribble in it, tear pages out, burn it. There is no question that this is the case.
What you cannot do is copy, redistribute, etc. the book.
The same ought to be true of web pages.