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Message no. 1
From: ROBERSON@***.EDU
Subject: Copyrighting Ideas
Date: Tue, 6 Apr 93 05:26:13 CET
No, an idea cannot be copyrighted. What the courts decide is how much one
work is based on another.
In Buchwald's case, Murphy's film followed the synopsis of the film,
with different names and some embellishment. Nontheless, the Spec script that
Buchwald submitted was considered a work and therefore copyrightable. Now, if
Buchwald had been talking about the idea but hadn't submitted it on paper,
Murphy would have gotten away scott free. Firthermore, if Buchwald had never
sent it in, the courts would probably decided that it was independent
development; Murphy wouldn't have had the opportunity to copy the concept.
Write it down, folks, and mail it to yourself if it's that important to you.

J Roberson

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Thwap!