The problem is that IP laws eventually are lobbied by the big copyright holders into being excessively long. How long did Steamboat Willie really have to be copyrighted for, and has their release into the public domain really affected Disney?
Eventually after you get back the money you invested, it’s just free money, and people like free money so much they pay lawyers and lobbyists that free money so that they can keep it coming.
That is like being baffled that someone remains religious after “reading the Bible”. Everyone is reading from just a few select passages that suit them while ignoring what the rest say and imply about them and their religion.