Novels aren't the only thing with copyright, and aren't really even the main thing that copyright protects. It also covers engineering reports, technical specs, journalism, blog posts, emails, internal memos, marketing copy, academic papers, user manuals, legal briefs, and a lot more.
Even in the particular case of novels, I would prefer to live in a world where some authors are making money than live in one with no novels at all.
Even in the particular case of novels, I would prefer to live in a world where some authors are making money than live in one with no novels at all.