I believe you are probably only looking at the current state of the world and seeing how it "stifles competition" or "hampers innovation". Those allegations are probably true to some extent, especially in specific cases, but its also missing the fact that without those protections, the tech likely wouldn't be created in the first place (and so you still wouldn't be able to freely use the idea, since the person who invented it wouldn't have).
As a society we’re having trouble defining abstract components of the self (consciousness, intelligence, identity) as is. What makes the legislative notion of an idea and its reification (what’s actually protected under copyright laws) secure from this same scrutiny? Then patent rights. And what do you think may happen if the viability of said economy comes into question afterwards?