If this is of interest:
>From Circular 31 of the Copyright Office:
Copyright protection extends to a description, explanation, or illustration of
an idea or system, assuming that the requirements of the copyright law are met.
Copyright in such a case protects the particular literary or pictorial
expression chosen by the author. However, it gives the copyright owner no
exclusive rights in the idea, method, or system involved.
Suppose, for example, that an author writes a book explaining a new system for
food processing. The copyright in the book, which comes into effect at the
moment the work is fixed in a tangible form, will prevent others from
publishing the text and illustrations describing the author’s ideas for
machinery, processes, and merchandising methods. But it will not give the
author any rights to prevent others from adopting the ideas for commercial
purposes or from developing
or using the machinery, processes, or methods described in the book."
Without quoting the attorneys, they did clearly infer that one would have the
right to sell an item made from a pattern, similar to sewing patterns, etc.,
but obviously the pattern itself is protected. They also stated that the
percentage rule is a kind of rumor, and not a legal technicality. Also that
many assumed copyrights may not stand up in a court of law, and that even
registered copyrights, by no means a guarantee, and could give a false sense of
security (paraphrased). There are so many variables that it is hard to
completely qualify.
I plan to drop this now, but wanted to share an excerpt of the pages and pages
I was given.
<smile>
Susan
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