Let's say I generate a new address and by some miracle it has Bitcoin already in it belonging to somebody else. Is it legal to just take it? I understand those odds are very low, no need to lecture me, I'm just interested.
Yeah staling Bitcoin is illegal because you are stealing it and it does not belong to you so even tho it is online it still is stealing.
The thing is that people can get away with it and nothing is done by it and that is why some do not see it as stealing.