I agree with you concerning the 3d area.But in combination with fine arts ,the situation is different:you may make a copy of a painting and change it to create a new one.But you are not allowed to change the original!That's international law for protecting art,which means,that you're not allowed to buy a Rembrant painting and put the image your face into the original.It's a quiete complex area,and not every country is willed or able to follow that inter- national agreement.But some courts have "special units" for that kind of stuff (at least here in europe).So let's say it is a question of authorship to a work,which stays protected for at least 72 years.Btw Bill Gates achived to protect his products that way....art?:))

http://www.fredivoss.de 

...yippi ah yeah or something like that...