The rapid development of the digital world has also revolutionized scientific and literary work. Our perceptions of the value of intellectual labor are in flux. Public debates about plagiarism surrounding the copy-paste mentality of cases like Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg or Silvia Koch-Mehrin, as well as discussions in literature regarding Helene Hegemann, alongside the recurring advocacy for open access, have brought the question of whether the digital age requires a new understanding of copyright to the forefront of societal and political attention. Philipp Theisohn's essay seeks to explore the causes of this development in the fields that are central to the current discussion about literary theft: in the realms of art, politics, and science. In contrast to the emerging dehumanization of the engagement with literature, Theisohn presents a plea for a more humane approach.