🚀 go-pugleaf

>The OSF/rose object file format is copyrighted in the manner of
>X11/BSD (ie, you can use, don't nuke the copyrights), but obviously
>you need to modify your system program loader to handle it.  At one
>time, the FSF was interested in OSF/rose for use with the full GNU
>system.  I don't know if they are still thinking of using it.

Does anyone have more information on these questions:

1) is a file format copyrightable in the U.S.

2) is a file format copyrightable according to the new EC copyright
   directives

3) is OSF/rose original and creative enough to qualify for protection
   according to the new EC copyright directives

4) does the U.S. copyright for programs require creativity


Perhaps Michael can also tell the OSF position in this; ie, where do
they think the file format is copyrightable.

At least 2) and 3) are not clear at all, 4) I just don't know about.

I suppose 1) is not very clear either, but here's something I found in
my files:

> FYI, 102 (b) of the U.S. Copyright Act:
> In no case does copyright protection for an original work of
> authorship extend to any idea, procedure, process, system, method
> of operation, concept, principle, or discovery, regardless of the
> form in which it is described, explained, illustrated, or embodied
> in such work.

A file format would seem to me to be something like what is described
in 102 (b).  But then so would user interfaces.

The following proposed amendment was not accepted to the EC copyright
directive.  I don't know if it matters, but it might:

> Whereas, for the avoidance of doubt, it has to be made clear that
> only the expression of a computer program is protected and that
> ideas and principles, procedures, processes, systems, methods of
> operation and concepts which underlie any element of a program,
> including its interfaces, are not protected by copyright under this
> Directive; Whereas, these unprotectible items include, for example,
> protocols for communication, rules for exchanging or mutually using
> information that has been exchanged, formats for data, and the
> syntax and semantics of a programming language;

//Jyrki