What's interesting in that case is I would argue the interface code is MORE important than the implementing code. You can hire any SWE to re-implement the entire API and it being pretty straightforward. The interface code was what actually mattered with developers and took creative expression, design, sequence, organization to put together and feedback and iteration over the years. Google knew this too, taking the interface code was WAY more important for them than if they had done the reverse.

Patents and copyrights are completely different things.

They do because it’s cheaper to hire a coder to twiddle than a lawyer to litigate.

Any function devoid of "creativity" is. No choices equal no creativity.

As a note the same applies to logos. Very simple logos that are only some lines and shapes, do not have copyright (in usa)