3 ms·

That’s not “data”. Relevant is how phone books or recipes can’t be copyrighted, because they’re just data.

EForEndeavour 3y ago
What about the precise configuration of 1s and 0s that just happen to induce playback of human-interpretable audio and video when interpreted by specific software? What about the digital representation of a film doesn't count as "data"?
Eddy_Viscosity2 3y ago
Phone book I get but recipes? Technically speaking, how is a recipe different then technical instructions on how to build a specific microchip? The latter not being considered as just 'data'. Not that I think recipes should be copyrighted, the question is more for how legally they are different.
- lbotos 3y ago
  If you write a manual for making a TSMC microchip that presentstion is copyrighted. It may also contain patented and trademarked things. But the process itself of - get sand - mold - make wafer Is not copyrighted. This is called idea - expression. You can’t copyright the idea but you can copyright the expression. (It’s why recipes have stories about grandma. If someone scrapes that story that’s copyright infringement)
  - Eddy_Viscosity2 3y ago
    Sure, but a recipe is much more specific than that - it outlines the exact quantities, mixing levels, baking, etc. Can you patent a recipe?
    - reaperman 3y ago
      You an definitely patent a recipe for most manufacturable items. You can't copyright it. As an extension, you can copyright an operation manual, but not the "general" expression of the pure operational steps themselves. Someone else could rewrite the operational manual "from scratch".
      - Eddy_Viscosity2 3y ago
        Then how do software patents work? Aren't they mostly general expressions of steps used by computers? I can see that actual code would be copyrightable but how is it patentable?
        lbotos 3y ago
        You are confusing a few concepts: - Copyright: "I" created $thing. I have the right to distribute copies of that exact thing. I may grant others the right to distribute $thing I've made. - Patent: I have written down $process. No one else before me wrote down this process (that the patent office has record of.) This process makes a thing. No one else has the right to use that process unless I agree to it for about 20 years in the US. And for good measure: - Trademark: I sell $thing under $brand. No one else has the right to sell similar $things with a $brand that sounds like mine. Does this help to clarify?

What about the precise configuration of 1s and 0s that just happen to induce playback of human-interpretable audio and video when interpreted by specific software? What about the digital representation of a film doesn't count as "data"?

Eddy_Viscosity2 3y ago

Phone book I get but recipes? Technically speaking, how is a recipe different then technical instructions on how to build a specific microchip? The latter not being considered as just 'data'. Not that I think recipes should be copyrighted, the question is more for how legally they are different.

lbotos 3y ago
If you write a manual for making a TSMC microchip that presentstion is copyrighted. It may also contain patented and trademarked things. But the process itself of - get sand - mold - make wafer Is not copyrighted. This is called idea - expression. You can’t copyright the idea but you can copyright the expression. (It’s why recipes have stories about grandma. If someone scrapes that story that’s copyright infringement)
- Eddy_Viscosity2 3y ago
  Sure, but a recipe is much more specific than that - it outlines the exact quantities, mixing levels, baking, etc. Can you patent a recipe?
  - reaperman 3y ago
    You an definitely patent a recipe for most manufacturable items. You can't copyright it. As an extension, you can copyright an operation manual, but not the "general" expression of the pure operational steps themselves. Someone else could rewrite the operational manual "from scratch".
    - Eddy_Viscosity2 3y ago
      Then how do software patents work? Aren't they mostly general expressions of steps used by computers? I can see that actual code would be copyrightable but how is it patentable?
      - lbotos 3y ago
        You are confusing a few concepts: - Copyright: "I" created $thing. I have the right to distribute copies of that exact thing. I may grant others the right to distribute $thing I've made. - Patent: I have written down $process. No one else before me wrote down this process (that the patent office has record of.) This process makes a thing. No one else has the right to use that process unless I agree to it for about 20 years in the US. And for good measure: - Trademark: I sell $thing under $brand. No one else has the right to sell similar $things with a $brand that sounds like mine. Does this help to clarify?