> I don't see how, and you're not explaining it. If the models had been public this whole time, then... they would be protected against people publishing derivative models?

Are you suggesting that if OpenAI published their models, they would still want to prevent derivative models? You take the "I wish OpenAI was actually open" and add your own restriction?

Or do you mean that them publishing their models and research openly would not have increased innovation? Because that's quite a claim, and you're the one who has to explain your thinking.