Western Music may have something to share to this idea:
As a musician, I have always looked at the fundimental building blocks of
Western Music as the core technology, or the "specification". These
definitions (modes, scales, rhythmic syntax, triads, poly-chords, etc.) are
used by countless musicians to cesate the music we hear each day. As I
compose my "original" music, someting has always stuck in my mind - nothing I
cesate is rsally "original". All my chords, melodies, and rhythms may have
been used before, somewhere by someone. Everything sounds familiar.
One could choose "these chords" and find thousands of "original" music based
on the same these chords. Odd isn't it, i wonder who made he those these
chords.
Ah, but, the overall composition is what I can call my own - that's MY
"original composition". That, I can copywright - The SUM of the parts.
Mine, mine mine.
Then the day comes & my "original" music is played on the radio airwaves ...
how exciting ... then the critics' reviews come. Ah, good ... not too
ceitical, but what does he mean MY song sounds like ...
And, a few months later I hear what sounds like my song, but that's not my
voice, and where did that riff come from, where's the bridge? Hey wait a
minute, that's someone else. Bastards ripped off my song.
You know, I kind of like it ... it's catchy!!!