[bvw]

If the neighbor borrows a lawnmower without notice it is stealing. In the example, I meant to say, if I did not do so, that you agreed to lend teh lawnmower to your neighbor, yet he has not acted with any dispatch to return it -- it is sitting by the side of his garage for days.

And here's another different example: I have a long extension ladder. Some neighbor comes and grabs it and uses it without my permission. Normally that's theft. In the case I'm thinking of it is not theft. Why? Because in this case his house is on fire and he needs the ladder to rescue his family. If it is damaged I would have some claim against him, though. In that liabilty for damages he, not being Sovereign, not to mention in some way more liable himself for the house fire than I would be, must pay for any damage to or replacement of my property taken from me be his necessity.

[American in Israel]

In this case they are manufacturing a drug without paying the licence fee. I am sure if they are honest they will pay the fees when the fee is settled, I would hate to think that theft is justified with the heading emergency.

Only problem is, by taking the drug before settling the fee, they tend to put themselves in a bad position when it comes time to settle the fee.

Kinda like taking a six pack of beer from the store saying I will settle up later, going fishing now. One tends to pay a higher price for empty bottles when it comes time to dicker over how much the beer was worth.