> your bits are illegal and your other identical bits are legal
That happens all the time though. If I rip a copy of a movie for backup purposes, that rip is legal. If I upload a torrent of it, the exact same bits on my disk are now illegal distribution of a copyrighted work.
If I am the artist who owns the copyright of the work, my bits can legally be redistributed.
The intent and legal status of the bits matters in a ton of cases.
That happens all the time though. If I rip a copy of a movie for backup purposes, that rip is legal. If I upload a torrent of it, the exact same bits on my disk are now illegal distribution of a copyrighted work.
If I am the artist who owns the copyright of the work, my bits can legally be redistributed.
The intent and legal status of the bits matters in a ton of cases.