"So I shouldn't care if I come up with an idea, and the Simpsons already did it"

In the context of the current copying charge leveled against Lady Antebellum, one finds the following text in a post titled
Lady Antebellum's 'Need You Now'--A Ripoff?

Now, the last time a country artist was embroiled in this sort of discussion, it was Gretchen Wilson vs. the Black Crowes back in 2008. Remember that one? The Crowes claimed "Work Hard, Play Harder" ripped off their 1991 hit "Jealous Again" (sparking discussion that the Crowes themselves are completely derivative of earlier classic rock bands, but that's a whole 'nother topic). In that case, the Crowes actually filed a copyright infringement suit against Wilson; however, no legal action has been taken as of yet against Lady A.

The catenated charge against the Crowes evokes the "The Simpsons Already Did It" episode of South Park.
See 2006 IPBiz post
South Park, the Simpsons, and copying (plagiarism)

Separately, one recalls the episode of "The Defenders" on Nov. 17 in which Penn Jilette delivers the "we all stand on the shoulders of giants" message. See
"The Defenders" show does the Uniform Trade Secrets Act on 17 Nov 2010 . Now, was Jilette saying no one has a right to any IP, and thus that the tools belong to the man who can use them? Or what? How about the man who built the tools?