Innovators or Pirates?

Many mashup artists and DJs around the world use remixes in order to re-create a music that suits their and many others' ears. They use beats, added vocals, drums, etc. But does this make them pirates? Or innovators? Think of it this way, if somebody has an idea to create something, but someone ELSE uses that idea to create something different and perhaps more alluring, does that make the latter a thief? Or a genius?

I begin to think that maybe this topic is not that black and white, there's a shady grey area in there somewhere. Similarly with music videos, if an artist or a recording company established one with their own design, music, lyrics, plot, idea and another artist forge a similar one but with their own music and lyrics, what would the audience think of the latter artist? Would they simply criticise him/her straight away or judge him/her or perhaps even praise him/her because the result is simply better than the previous artist?

Above illustration pretty much sums up everything about innovators and pirates (the left being innovator & the right is a pirate). After careful consideration and research, I have concluded my decision that they are indeed pirates. It doesn't matter if they change their design or lyric or words or images, if the IDEA is similar (or the same) , then it is stealing. Therefore, it makes them pirates. Idea is something that's extremely valuable and fragile at the same time, because lots of people can adapt that idea to make something more profitable to them.  Similarly with DJs and mashup artists, even though they remix a song that sounds a little bit different than the original, but it still CONTAINS the original part in their remixes. Even though, yes, they did use their own instruments but somehow it is not authentic. Therefore, technically speaking, they can't sell it to make profit to them because it's not 100% their idea. Pretty much only 50% that they contribute, really.

Us as audiences (consumers) can choose NOT to pay if such artists tend to do so because we know the product is not genuine. Unfortunately, there are many cases globally today that artists still charge consumers for their remixes. I disagree with this as I believe it's not legitimate.  Same with the interpretation below, (the right being innovator, the left being pirates), pirates are generally taking something from someone and uses it to gain acquisition from consumers. From the customers' point of view, we should know better and perhaps report those who does things this way and next time to point out that it is wrong. And they should not charge us a single cent for it.

Photo Source:
(1) http://static.lolyard.com/lol/people-vs-govt-fishing.jpg

(2)https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif7KGvajx-rtET05ZJ_u8wnCTryUJtsWwm9kggXZV10DhgRTa-B9eM_8-K2cXshGIoDGIT9OY299pX1HELysLz1ZTVnp01OwWoA7WmFBkQYRTK_bQxif6gh6-GvxSIpkl5sT5_bse9oTv4/s1600/Government+vs+The+People.jpg

References:
Martin, B, Moore, C and Salter, C. 2010, 'Sharing music files: tactics of a challenge to the industry', First Monday, vol. 15, no. 12.