Assignment:
"The key to understanding intellectual property protection is to understand that the thing protected is the intangible creative work - not its particular physical form". Copyright, patent, and trademark laws all protect forms of intellectual property. But in enforcing these laws, should we ban or restrict software, technology, a device, or research because it has the potential for illegal use, or should we ban only the illegal uses?
In other words, which should take precedence, the freedom of people to develop and use tools for legal purposes, or the prevention of potential crimes? Are the two mutually exclusive? Cite appropriate references from the text or other sources you have researched.
Please answer fully in about 200 to 300 words