Phil:
    I make an exception for music because there are only a limited number of useful, melodic permutations of notes, beats to the bar and so on, with which to construct a tune.
There may have been a few new tunes over the last century but not as many as we may think.
That being said, if Joe Blow writes a new tune, it's not up for grabs.
Words however, are the thoughts and ideas of someone else. Can't touch that but of course we are clearly in agreement with the latter.