🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1329@se-sd.sandiego.NCR.COM> dennis@se-sd.sandiego.NCR.COM writes:
>In article <2411@calmasd.GE.COM> jnp@calmasd.GE.COM (John Pantone) writes:
>>One, commonly used, method for "proving" the date of invention is to
>>document the invention and mail it to yourself (postmark).  Leave the
>>envelope un-opened.
>> 
>Gosh, I think I'll mail myself some envelopes (unsealed of course) to
>get them postmarked today.  Then, when something comes along that I
>want to be the inventor of, I'll write a description of it and put it
>into one of the envelopes and seal it.  Incontrovertible evidence that
>the invention was mine!  :-) :-) :-)

While "common", this method is not "incontrovertible" proof, and the
courts know it.  It's as true with copyright law as with patent law.
Because copyright law requires registration with two copies when you
publish <insert legal definition of public distribution>, the only
time this trick is needed for copyrights is when an author delays
publication for some reason (I've got a whole mess of brass quartets
and quintets in the hopper, to be published "someday").

Here's a trick:  put a one-cent stamp across each (sealed) seam of
the envelope, wait in line at your local PO, and have them hand-cancel
each stamp.
--

As I think about this, though, the technical ways to break into the
envelope exist and, I assume, one could reclose and reglue the stamps
without it showing.  What are the options?  Have a couple of people
review copies of your design papers and sign them as witnesses?  Get
the signatures notarized so there's a permanent record?

...Kris
-- 
Kristopher Stephens, | (408-746-6047) |          {whatever}!amdahl!krs
Amdahl Corporation   |                |    -or-  krs@amdahl.amdahl.com
     [The opinions expressed above are mine, solely, and do not    ]
     [necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Amdahl Corp. ]