> authors won’t publish if anyone can republish their work for free
There's plenty (even a majority?) of authors that publish and will continue to publish without any expectation of direct remuneration. Open source software developers and companies hiring such developers. Not-for-profit organisations increasing awareness of a cause. Private companies wanting to reach an audience for marketing reasons.[1] Government organisations. Researchers funded by government grants. Universities publishing books or coursework openly (they're in the business of selling their stamps on degrees, not selling books).
[1] Even includes the likes of Warner Music with CC-BY music videos on YouTube for some artists, seemingly for marketing reasons to try and build the name and following of a particular artist.
Again, incentives.
The people who publish are people who have reason to publish when they can be copied. Typically either they have already been paid, or they expect to gain market share by being free.
People who need renumeration to continue working will not publish.
Intellectual property rights, as much as I dislike the RIAA and MPAA, created a way for more players to enter the market, because it created a way for their needs to be met.