See http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2594477

GHFigs · on May 28, 2011

See what? You just used the same word in the same context, and it makes just as little sense as it did before. Using the public domain isn't "plundering", nor does it magically become "plundering" when a hypocrite, corporation, or hypocritical corporation does it. It's a completely normal and desirable aspect of having a public domain.

swombat · on May 28, 2011

I think you have this impression that "plundering the public domain" is somehow a bad thing - maybe that's where the misunderstanding comes from. I don't think anyone who's using the term thinks plundering the public domain is a bad thing - we all wish the public domain was even larger, so there would be more plundering going on.

endtwist · on May 28, 2011

Then the word you're looking for isn't "plundering" but perhaps "adapting" or "borrowing."

   plun·der
      (v) Steal goods from;
      (n)  The violent and dishonest acquisition of property.

You can't steal that which is given away freely.

GHFigs · on May 28, 2011

I think you have this impression that "plundering the public domain" is somehow a bad thing

I think using the public domain is a good thing. I think that describing it as "raiding" and "plundering" when someone you don't like does it is bullshit.

I don't think anyone who's using the term thinks plundering the public domain is a bad thing

Then why would you use the word plundering to describe it? That's like saying rape is part of a normal and healthy marriage. If you don't mean rape, don't call it rape.