You seem to NOT understand hyperbole. It's extremely tiresome to wrap every statement with 5 paragraphs of exceptions. Of course people are still rewriting Shakespere and the like.
The relevant point is that nobody HAS to right in Shakespeare's universe. There are unlimited ways of telling "boy and girl from warring familes fall in love".
Copyright applies to specific works, not generic concepts. Harry Potter....no no. Boy wizard? Go right ahead. Muggles? No no. Non magical people in a magical world? Go right ahead. Dracula? Sure, it predates copyright. Braham Stoker's Drakula? Nay nay.
If someone is advocating that copyright should cover "ideas/concepts" - (like, say, faster than light travel)? Then count me in the "nay nay" crowd.
Everyone should be able to write stories with Captain Kirk and the USS Enterprise? Nay nay. Never never. Not without the right holder's agreement.
|