Everyone is penniless compared to the size of the market where every participant can instantly copy just the components. For existing tech, there's nothing spe

Everyone is penniless compared to the size of the market where every participant can instantly copy just the components. For existing tech, there's nothing special about this - of course you can assemble a bicycle the same way every other bike is assembled. But for new tech this is a killer difference: with the protections, "penniless" inventors (everyone) has a chance to make a fundamental investment of time and resources. Without the invention you can just do unpaid R&D for the existing players. If they can also sue you in case they outlaw you, then even the possibility of licensing to them disappears.