Patent proponents assert that ownership of ideas is a natural property right that cannot be subverted in an economically functional society. Copyright proponents assert that ownership of ideas is a natural property right that cannot be subverted in an economically functional society.
This is where software patents are a problem even between these two groups. Software patents trump the natural ownership rights (if any) that were conferred by copyright. That's fair?
This is secondary to the core issue of software patents – the claim being that causing a secondary market failure (a monopoly) is less harmful than the primary market failure of uncontrolled copying of the idea (no scarcity). I think the patent pushers have yet to prove their case on this one.