[drcy]

In museum studies classes we debate these types of issues, but about ancient artifacts that crossed international lines generations ago. In many cases, it's debatable who is the rightful (however you wish to define rightful) owner, and sometimes the popular ethical view and the law differ.

Common international sentiment is that the British Museum should return the Elgin Marbles (giant Ancient Greek marble figures) to Greece, but according to international law the museum is the fair owner. It's also debated if returning everything to its original country is a good thing, and the British Museum argues that it is a "world museum," an international cultural center not simply a national musuem. If the only place you can see Ancient Greek artifacts is in Greece or Peruvian artifacts in Peru, is that a good thing?