[Aliantha]

So what do you think is a reasonable amount of time then? What's wrong with someone's children profiting from their parents brilliance? Surely that's what any parent would want for their kids?

It's an interesting issue, and I'd bet that the guy who invented the wheel profited from some time by making wheels for other people because his were the best, and perhaps he passed that secret down to his kids, and I suppose that's the issue for me.

for example, if someone comes up with the best recipe ever (let's use KFC as an example). Is he dead yet? When do we get to know what the secret herbs and spices are? Why shouldn't we have access to that information?

The reason is that his descendants are making a profit from the 'secret'.

Maybe it's not exactly the same thing, but I think it's pretty close.