[DrScientist]

> it's whether society benefits as a whole.

There is a big difference between not being able to republish or cut and paste from the works of JK Rowling and not being able to make and sell an electric motor.

ie my point was that in terms of societal benefit there is a big difference between IP protection and copyright.

JK Rowling managed to write Harry Potter series despite it reusing lots of well worn tropes. I fail to see how it's existence is stopping other people being equally creative.