No, it's because while I'm driving it, you can't. (Its really not that hard to grasp.) When I take your property, I deprive you of it. But when I copy the idea of "Hobbits" and make a tabletop roleplaying game out of it, what are you deprived of? My interpretation or re-interpretation of the notion of "Hobbits" doesn't subtract that notion out of anyone else's mind. It only adds to it.
Just call them halflings instead.. Oh wait, that IS what happened..