People forget that the idea of ownership is extremely fluid and has existed in many variations throughout history. They like to act as if the current version of copyright is The One True Way. Thus ignoring the fact that perceptions of "intellectual property" are rapidly shifting as we speak, leaning back towards a less-structured version.

Seriously, there were times in history where nobody signed their work because they didn't think that was important or that it was arrogant -- and now, on the Internet, some people just toss stuff into the public domain without bothering to put their name on it. It's not just a matter of "piracy." The shift in perception affects people on both sides. Not everyone, but some.

Me, I don't feel like trying to push the tide back with a broom. I'll be content if I can just find ways of making the current paradigm pay off for me, since my wordsmithing is a career rather than a hobby. And so far, I'm making more progress with that than with conventional publishing.