Thomas Jefferson once wrote (discussing patent law, but I think the principle applies to copyright as well):

"He who receives an idea from me, received instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me."

Now L. Fitzgerald Sjöberg has created a humorous take on Jefferson's idea with an article about copyrighting fire, which can be found at:

a href=http://www.brunching.com/features/feature-copyfire.html

T.