it's just data, you're not really stealing it from them, it's just a copy, you're free to do whatever you want with it, etc etc etc to bigjohn: wasn't speaking to anyone in particular
the writers have specifically said they will not be addressing that at all in the series. so you'll have to look forward to the inevitable books/movies/spinoffs/magazine/art books/etc/etc/etc for that info.
Lost has it's own on going thread, why not Heroes!? Post your thoughts, theories, predictions, etc etc. And obviously, this will be chock full of spoilers!