Does this help:
Semiconductor and Chip Protection Act"It has some aspects of copyright law, some aspects of patent law, and in some ways it is completely different from either."
"The owner of mask work rights may pursue an alleged infringer ("chip pirate") by bringing an action for mask work infringement in federal district court. The remedies available correspond generally to those of copyright law and patent law."
You're both right you see.
Then there is the unwritten law of "you steal my stuff and I break your nose". Or shoot you (legal in some states of the US apparently /just joking)
