I would just like to claim copyright on the idea of

[Genome]

Knobbly Scroll Wheels on Mice.

DNA

 

[[email protected]]

Knobbly Scroll Wheels on Mice.

You cannot copyright ideas, just the implementation of the idea. For
example, if you claim copyright to the phrase above then I wouldn't be
violating your copyright if I write:

"Computer Mice with scroll wheels that have a non-smooth surface"

because although the meaning is the same/similar the sentence is not.
To protect ideas instead of just the implementation of them you need a
patent not copyright. And while copyrights are free patents cost money.

 

[Genome]

You cannot copyright ideas, just the implementation of the idea. For
example, if you claim copyright to the phrase above then I wouldn't be
violating your copyright if I write:

"Computer Mice with scroll wheels that have a non-smooth surface"

because although the meaning is the same/similar the sentence is not.
To protect ideas instead of just the implementation of them you need a
patent not copyright. And while copyrights are free patents cost money.

This is obvious Cock End.

I have told you a brilliant idea over the internet and it is logged on
Google.

If you try and poof about with it then I can make you look like a stupid
second rate parasite type person because we all know that I came up with it
first and it is absolutely brilliant.

Therefore you are forced to put a note on any Mice you produce with 'Knobbly
Scroll Wheels' on them words to the effect of.

'Knobbly Scroll Wheel Based on an Idea by Genome'

You might choose to ignore me but others will not and in the future all Mice
will have 'Knobbly Scroll Wheels' on them and a message on the label that
talks about the FCC stuff that says....

'Knobbly Scroll Wheel Based on an Idea by Genome'

I shall become famous and you will be 'The Bloke who Blithered About
Something'.

DNA

 

[[email protected]]

This is obvious Cock End.

No need to be nasty. This just proves that you're trolling. I'm just
clarifying that the legal basis you're using to protect your idea is
wrong. You need a patent not a copyright. The courts have ruled a long
time ago that if someone copyrights a schematic he has no rights over
the PCB which implements the schematic. Same with what you were doing.
By copyrighting the sentence "Knobbly Scroll Wheels on Mice" you have
no right to the physical mouse that implements that idea.

I have told you a brilliant idea over the internet and it is logged on
Google.

Unfortunately telling others about an idea does not grant any
protection on the idea. Morally, yes you've won - it's your idea but
legally you have nothing. Patents are not like copyright. While
copyrights are granted the moment the work is produced you need to
apply for a patent. Fortunately for the US disclosure does not
invalidate a patent application. I believe you have up to 1 year now to
apply for a patent before the concept becomes public domain.

If you try and poof about with it then I can make you look like a stupid
second rate parasite type person because we all know that I came up with it
first and it is absolutely brilliant.

Therefore you are forced to put a note on any Mice you produce with 'Knobbly
Scroll Wheels' on them words to the effect of.

'Knobbly Scroll Wheel Based on an Idea by Genome'

You might choose to ignore me but others will not and in the future all Mice
will have 'Knobbly Scroll Wheels' on them and a message on the label that
talks about the FCC stuff that says....

'Knobbly Scroll Wheel Based on an Idea by Genome'

I shall become famous and you will be 'The Bloke who Blithered About
Something'.

No patent, no obligation to acknowledge. What you've just done is not
granting yourself the exclusive right to the idea (like a patent might
have) but rather prevent others form patenting to the idea since we can
always point to this thread and say "prior art".

 

[Paul Burke]

You cannot copyright ideas

What's the Da Vinci Code case about then?

 

[René]

Knobbly Scroll Wheels on Mice.

DNA

Ah - "wheels"! That's my patent!
Pay up please. My lawyer will be in touch.

 

[The Real Andy]

This is obvious Cock End.

I have told you a brilliant idea over the internet and it is logged on
Google.

If you try and poof about with it then I can make you look like a stupid
second rate parasite type person because we all know that I came up with it
first and it is absolutely brilliant.

Therefore you are forced to put a note on any Mice you produce with 'Knobbly
Scroll Wheels' on them words to the effect of.

'Knobbly Scroll Wheel Based on an Idea by Genome'

You might choose to ignore me but others will not and in the future all Mice
will have 'Knobbly Scroll Wheels' on them and a message on the label that
talks about the FCC stuff that says....

'Knobbly Scroll Wheel Based on an Idea by Genome'

I shall become famous and you will be 'The Bloke who Blithered About
Something'.

DNA

I already got a Knobbly Scroll Wheel on my MS(tm) mouse.

 

[[email protected]]

What's the Da Vinci Code case about then?

Don't know, maybe the UK have different laws. According to the US
Copyright Office:

You cannot copyright:
1. Intangible works.
2. Names, phrases, fonts, lists..
3. Ideas, procedures, methods..
4. Common information such as calendars, rulers etc..

See: http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ1.html#wnp

Hollywood have been using rule 3 for ages to steal storylines. The
story/script itself is copyrighted but the idea of the story is not.
So, if Shakespere were to write Romeo and Juliet today you can just
change the setting to "Titanic" and make the lovers die due to drowning
instead of poison and you wouldn't be violating copyright laws.
Similarly, if you feel inspired by Lord of the Rings, make a movie
called "Willow", change Hobbit to Dwarf and change the ring to a baby
and you wouldn't be violating copyright.

Fonts have always been public domain according to US laws but when
computers arrived font foundries tried to copyright the digital
expression of fonts. In 1988 this was ruled invalid by the copyright
office:

http://www.totse.com/en/law/justice_for_all/sf-legal.html

The copyright of databases and lists (covered by both rules 2 and 4)
were ruled invalid in the 1991 case of Feist Publications vs. Rural
Tel. Service:


http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=US&vol=499&invol=340

I can't find it by quick googling but I believe there was also a case
about copyrighting schematics and PCBs. The verdict was carbon-copying
violates copyright (and rightly so) but re-implementing the PCB (by
re-routing & using different components) does not violate copyright.
That's why it is considered useless to copyright a circuit. But several
countries like Australia, Canada and a large part of Europe now have
laws permitting copyrighting "circuit topologies" for integrated
circuits. Those laws may in the future extend to cover PCBs but
currently it doesn't (at least not in the US). So if you really want to
protect your circuit you need to patent it.

 

[Paul Hovnanian P.E.]

Ah - "wheels"! That's my patent!
Pay up please. My lawyer will be in touch.

Leave it to Microsoft to come up with the 'non circular wheel'. ;-)

But seriously, doesn't a patent have to have some value or advantage
over the current state of the art? (I know, the topic is copyrights and
that doesn't apply.) What exactly would the advantage of a knurled
scroll wheel be? Improved traction while operating a mouse contaminated
by some slippery substance (Yeeech!)?

 

[Rich Grise]

Don't know, maybe the UK have different laws. According to the US
Copyright Office:

You cannot copyright:
1. Intangible works.
2. Names, phrases, fonts, lists..
3. Ideas, procedures, methods..
4. Common information such as calendars, rulers etc..

See: http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ1.html#wnp

Hollywood have been using rule 3 for ages to steal storylines. The
story/script itself is copyrighted but the idea of the story is not.
So, if Shakespere were to write Romeo and Juliet today you can just
change the setting to "Titanic" and make the lovers die due to drowning
instead of poison and you wouldn't be violating copyright laws.

Seen "West Side Story" yet? ;-P

Cheers!
Rich

 

[David Harmon]

On Wed, 15 Mar 2006 13:01:47 -0800 in sci.electronics.design, "Paul

But seriously, doesn't a patent have to have some value or advantage
over the current state of the art?

No. No such requirement.

 

[martin griffith]

Knobbly Scroll Wheels on Mice.

DNA

hmmm, from a bunch of well meaning sharks....
http://www.law.duke.edu/cspd/comics/zoomcomic.html




martin

 

[Genome]

hmmm, from a bunch of well meaning sharks....
http://www.law.duke.edu/cspd/comics/zoomcomic.html




martin

I didn't read all 71 pages but any time SHE wants to sleep close to a warm
thing I am available, bed and covers included. Haven't had a bath for three
months but I don't think I'm too smelly.... plus I don't snore.... BONUS!

DNA