Historically, copyright laws were created as means to protect publishers, and not authors. There was a shift towards protecting the authors, but the entire structure is still biased.

In other words, we never really had a system that protects author’s interests and incentives them to create more.

Having more people access content IS in the best interest of authors, because it makes them more renowned. So, if a system is based on restricting reproduction, it’s protecting publishers.

But what alternative dobwe have? We never actually developed a consistent alternative, and, in a way, people are still experimenting. It’s not likely that we will find a solution that fits all forms of creative works.

If you are legitimately interested in this I’d strongly recommend reading Kinsella’s “Against Intellectual Property”

It’s not easy. I see something along the lines of:

• Tax the rich (we should do that anyway)
• Introduce a UBI (universal basic income), which we need if automation increases
• Artists don’t need to make money with their art amymore
• Art is free
• Good™️ artists can still earn more via comissions

I have the — for some quite radical — take that knowledge should be free, labor should be paid. Anything that can be shared/copied without anshy cost should be open to be used by anyone.