Nice review, but warrants a slight correction/addition. The 1982 THING was itself a remake of the original 1950's THING, which I believe cast James Arness of tv Gunsmoke fame as the monster. Spooky enough for filmgoers at the time, I suppose, in that 1950's, grainy, black & white, halloween music, low special effects budget kind of way.
Re: “Appropriating Property”
Copyrights and patents are rarely independent of what went before. You draw on the work of others, then others to follow draw on your work. Thats one rationale for relatively short term absolute control over your work, after which it becomes public domain. And, wow, what a great, thought provoking article by the Media Maven. Tying together Joan Armatrading, Operation Hiroshima, Megaupload, Congress, Proudhon, property taxes and House is a neat trick.