Why can't you just call clone?

Question

Java

Good. I’m learning Java according to Horstmann and the following question appeared. If the Object class has a clone () method protected, then I know that all sub-classes can call it. But in our case, all classes implicitly inherit the Object class, so why can’t I call?
PS: Yes, I know that it is necessary to write implements Cloneable, and rewrite the clone method, making it public.

Answer 1

Why not when you can?

public class SomeSubClass {
    
    void someMethod() throws CloneNotSupportedException {
        this.clone();
    }
    
}

This code compiles.