Here’s an interesting idea in the Los Angeles Times: the logical extension of the argument that intellectual property is real property that can be owned (as opposed to pwned, that is) is that ‘IP’ should incur a property tax, just like other properties. If set properly, this should prevent the frivolous acquisition of ‘IP’ (actually a misleading term covering several very different legal areas), in particular copyrights and patents, where the sole purpose is to generate revenue for an indefinite period for no actual creativity. Furthermore, once the ‘IP’ is of no profit to the owner, they stop paying the tax and the ‘IP’ in question lapses into the public domain where it can be used in perpetuity, rather than being forever locked up (at zero cost).
It would certainly seem to go some way to restoring the balance of copyright and patent abuse by large corporations in recent years.