In my opinion, copyright laws should only apply to the original text, and only for a limited time. If someone wants to make a sequel to the book I just wrote? Go for it, it's not going to be cannon or from the same author. If they want to publish it in Spanish? No, it's substantially the same.

Likewise, if I paint a picture of my OC, I should have copywrite over that picture, no one else can sell or print it, but not the characteristics which make up the OC.

It seems at first that this would lead to a horrible Disney stealing intellection property situation, but I don't think so. Instead, everyone would be doing the reverse. Pop culture would be reabsorped by the masses. Films are,at the end of the day, produced by artist, except now those artist are the essential element, not the ip. A studio is only valuable if they can produce great films, not aquire the best brand. Let's let the masses take a crack at superman.