New Delhi, July 22 -- There is a widespread misconception that copyright law exists to provide authors with the incentive to write. But most writers are unable to earn a living off writing.

With Generative AI challenging traditional notions of intellectual property, it is well worth asking what truly motivates writers-and what exactly it is that society should be looking to reward.

Intellectual property dates back to the mid-1400s-to a time when the importance of the Venetian Republic was on the rise.

While Venetians were already wealthy from trade, they knew they would be richer still if, instead of travelling to acquire the fine silks their customers craved, they could learn how to make this fabric.

For this, they needed to en...