[arto]

> In a world where everyone just copies everyone else freely (e.g. the desktop PC world) there is/would be much less innovation.

For a counterpoint, see e.g. Johanna Blakley's excellent TED talk on how the copyright-free fashion industry thrives despite rampant legal counterfeiting:

http://www.ted.com/talks/johanna_blakley_lessons_from_fashio...

[Apple-Guy]

When did a fashion house spend billions of dollars on R&D, a requirement for most significant tech products?

Please read "Are software patents evil?" http://www.roughlydrafted.com/2011/08/09/are-software-patent...