Things have changed in how we produce and utilize art a little in the 300+ years since then.
Back then, it took as much time and effort and money, and almost as much skill and talent, to copy art as it did to create new art.
Ordinary could not afford copies of art. The wealthy and powerful patrons that could afford to have art made wanted original works, not copies of existing works--they were buying art to show off the wealth and success of themselves or of the region they ruled, and copying someone else's art would do a poor job of that.
Also, art tended to be the work of a single artist (with possibly a handful of assistants). They generally did not have anything on the scale of a modern movie or television show or video game.
Back then, it took as much time and effort and money, and almost as much skill and talent, to copy art as it did to create new art.
Ordinary could not afford copies of art. The wealthy and powerful patrons that could afford to have art made wanted original works, not copies of existing works--they were buying art to show off the wealth and success of themselves or of the region they ruled, and copying someone else's art would do a poor job of that.
Also, art tended to be the work of a single artist (with possibly a handful of assistants). They generally did not have anything on the scale of a modern movie or television show or video game.