Seems to be some logical inconsistencies in the startup community over what is and is not ok to copy. Usually, like anything, it comes back to whatever is self-serving to the person doing the talking.
Investors speak out against patents on methods of doing business because their well-funded current or future portfolio companies could "build on" the ideas and use the cash lead to make a ton of money.
Digital media distribution platforms want online content to be freely distributed off of or outside of the publishers' sites that paid for the content to be produced.
This is all still pretty new and the rules of law and of decency are still being determined (and, in the case of the latter, are different for each individual).
I think the more productive outcome of this line-crossing is this exact discussion to help shape those rules.