Re: [computer-go] Intellectual Property

[Thomas Johnson <thomas_johnson@xxxxxxx>]

It is my understanding that it is not the attachment of a copyright
notice that enables you to pursue a copyright infringement suit, but
rather the registration of your copyright with the US Copyright Office.
Nolo.com says: "Even if you don't put that little © on your work, you
automatically get a copyright the instant your work of expression
becomes fixed in a tangible medium. Theoretically, this means that you
own the copyright, and no one may copy, distribute, display or make
adaptations of the work without your permission.....Even though you own
the copyright, you can't file your lawsuit unless you have registered
the copyright with the U.S. Copyright Office."

Additionally, I believe that algorithms are patentable, see for example
AT&T Corp v. Excel Communcations,
http://www.slwk.com/site_layout/ip_info/bulletins/280167.asp ("The
refusal to hear further arguments indicates that the Federal Circuit
decision granting patent rights to algorithms and software stands") and
35 U.S.C. § 101 which is discussed at
http://www.law.cornell.edu/bulletin/sp/2001_02/bizmethod/disc.htm and
notes that the critical factor is '"whether the mathematical algorithm
is applied in a "practical manner to produce a useful result."'.

However, I note that you are posting from Switzerland, and I'm not
familiar with the legal situation there, so perhaps this is
inapplicable.

Once again, IANAL, and you (Robin) should get one.

Sincerely,
Thomas


On Fri, 2004-01-16 at 16:20, Nicol N. Schraudolph wrote:
> On Fri, 16 Jan 2004, Robin Kramer wrote:
> 
> > I know that the code itself is not sufficient to produce, a copyright,
> > patent etc.  I am interested in protecting the rights of anyone who should
> > want to share code, including myself.
> 
> Code cannot be patented (nor a work of art, nor an algorithm), but the
> legal doctrine is that since modern programming languages give you the
> flexibility and freedom to express a given algorithm in many different
> ways, source code is a creative work, and as such automatically protected
> by copyright.  Of course violations are hard to pursue unless you attach
> an explicit copyright notice.
> 
> Best,
> 
> - nic
-- 
Thomas Johnson <thomas_johnson@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
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