these things. In order to get a patent, the thing you're trying to patent has to actually work.
That's not actually entirely true, but should be. I could create a method for creating an automated whack-a-mole gizmoatomizer, and create outlandish claims for it, that can't be proven with current technology, but if someone comes along and actually creates one, well I already own the patent. That is the major flaw in patent law, if you come up with this fantastic novel idea that it isn't possible to make work now, but could work or you can convince the patent office it could conceivably work, given the proper technology you get the patent. If I had a million $ to blow, I'd probably write a program to create patent applications and flood the patent process with them, then give all the patents aways as public domain. Want to bet how fast the patent law would get fixed if I did that?
That said, y'all are miscontruing what copyright law is all about, and BTW RIAA et al are trying SOOOO hard to change. Copyright law is "designed" to give an author certain "rights" to works they create, ie that means that without copyright law authors have no established rights to works they create. Authors do not have absolute right to their works. Let's say you write a SCI-FI dramatic novel. I can take your entire novel and create a comedic SCI-FI novel that is a complete mirror of your novel, and you can't stop me or make me pay you anything. It's fair use. Example Star Wars -> Space Balls. Now I don't know if, the makers of Space Balls paid anything to do that work, but the point is they didn't "have to". Generally though most in the industry try to get permission and wind up paying hush money to avoid battles like that. Courts have consistently supported this, although there is a recent case in NY that went counter to this, and will be overturned on appeal. So the caveat that you never know what the result of a court might decide in any given case is true. However, given that, the more precedent you have on your side, the better your chance to win ultimately is. If you have the bucks to and determination to see it through.