Just so you know, copyright infringement does allow independent development to be a valid excuse. Copyright infringement requires intentional copying without p

Just so you know, copyright infringement does allow independent development to be a valid excuse. Copyright infringement requires intentional copying without permission, and so if you independently produce the same thing without copying, that thing now has two distinct copyrights. Patents may be what you're thinking of, as they require zero knowledge nor intent to infringe upon, but patents do not apply to artistic performances.