Theft/Appropriation

Also interested by the use of text in this project, I wanted to make some notes on the concepts of theft and appropriation to get myself into the zone.  

• Theft - the act of dishonestly taking something that belongs to someone else and keeping it.
• Appropriation - the act of taking something for your own use, usually without permission. 

                                   - Cambridge English Dictionary

In some ways they are very similar, however connotations and fine details differ. Theft is predominantly seen as a negative action (see dishonestly in the definition), while appropriation has more neutral connotations, particularly in regards to art, and going by the dictionary definition does not specify it involves removing it from the use of the original owner. The concept of theft/appropriation moves into two directions, dependent from the position you are viewing it. It may be positive or it may be negative. 

• public <</>> theft <</>> private
• public <</>> appropriation <</>> private

In true Marxist fashion my mind takes me to the view that appropriation/theft from the public realm as negative, this is at variance to the majority in this country? On the internet for example this takes place with the monopolisation, gatekeeping, restriction, ring-fencing of information, data and creative content, usually in the name of monetary gain.