"recent" we in 300 or so years? Yes. And guess why we made copyright to begin with? It became very easy for large companies to copy and mass produce ideas from people who made them. History repeats.

It's not like tribes and families also didn't keep secrets to maintain some power or as matter of trade. We call them "trade secrets" now but those go back before recorded history.

In addition, consider thar back the we had actual communities, unlike now. Bring those back and we can talk about tearing down copyright.