@MarkTime:
Ehm, lets substitute some words and see how it than looks: Copyright becomes Car.
Essentially you than say: If you leave your car somewhere unattended for a prolonged stretch of time, than it becomes public posession...
Personally I still think that anybody taking my car, whatever state it is encountered in, is a common thief and should be dealt with accordingly.
Unless, of course, I have given permission to somebody to use the vehicle as it suits her, provided this and that, THAN she (excuse me, I am positively biased towards females :-P ) has the right to use it.
Regards,
Tjitte