While the current, open, cooperative system does sometimes permit free riders to benefit from the work of others, it makes innovation and collaboration easier and less risky for variety artists and does a better job of encouraging the creation of new works. While some performers suffer economically and emotionally from seeing [*133] their creative work used by others, the variety arts benefit from granting inspired individuals unfettered access to communal knowledge. Without additional legal protections, the community can still enforce its ethics and standards through social pressures, which, while imperfect, can be very effective. The benefits to the arts are well worth the risk.