Why should we pay to provide you the privilege of exclusivity? Especially when we are well aware that only a relative few benefit substantially from intellectual property rights.

Musicians don't benefit from these laws for the most part, though the record companies do. Authors don't benefit from these laws for the most part, thought their publishers do.

As for inventors generally, would they really cease to tinker if they couldn't patent their inventions? And don't certain businesses routinely copy inventions with minor changes that circumvent patents and allow for duplication anyway?

The late, departed musician known as Prince was obsessed with "ownership" of his music. Ironic¡ally, many of his productions disappeared into a vault and have yet to be publicly presented. Turns out in his later years, he earned a good deal of income from public performances..