Ideas v. their description

An idea is not its description, despite what many writers may think. I am involved in the creation and communication of ideas -- have been for decades -- yet I have no difficulty in separating an idea from the words used to describe it. In fact, I am convinced that often the creator of an idea is not the best person to communicate it to a wider audience. I can think of countless instances from my own experience where truly gifted and brilliant thinkers (academics, marketing people, trainers, business leaders) have been atrocious communicators. And where truly gifted communicators have had atrocious ideas.

That's why the famous have ghost writers. That's why politicians have speechwriters. That's why entrepreneurs employ marketing communications professionals, who employ copywriters (not copyrighters :-)). It's a rare individual who has the talent to both create transformative ideas and to communicate them effectively - perhaps that is why such people become household names. But they are the exception, not the rule. If your words are worthy of your ideas, and vice versa, copyright fulfils its original function.