If someone creates a physical object that provides a valuable function, they can protect that object through patents and the like. If someone else copies that object and tries to pass it off as their own, the person who originally invented the device can take steps to stop them.

What about intellectual property? Intellectual property being an idea or process that could be valuable but cannot physically produced. Think something like Boolean logic. Boolean logic turned out to be the basis for constructing all computer circuits. It could certainly be argued that there's value in this idea. On the other hand, this system was always there. It just needed someone to work with it and establish the rules.

Should something like Boolean logic be able to be patented or does it belong to everyone?

How do you protect an idea?

Can you think of an instance of 2 people that had the same idea but one flourished and one didn't. Why?