Re: Copyright on languages

Just a couple of months ago, SAS made a similar attempt to enforce copyright on APIs (functions) in the European courts.

It failed! (Same link as the "The start of some sanity?" question in my sig).

We can only hope that the US courts reach a similar sensible conclusion.

With the rise and rise of 'Social' network sites: 'Computers are making people easier to use everyday'

Examine what is said, not who speaks -- Silence betokens consent -- Love the truth but pardon error.

"Science is about questioning the status quo. Questioning authority".

In the absence of evidence, opinion is indistinguishable from prejudice.

Comment on Re: Copyright on languages

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Re^2: Copyright on languages by ikegami (Patriarch) on May 02, 2012 at 17:42 UTC
On the plus side, Judge Alsup seems extremely competent. He's not a programmer, but he's very keen on making sure he and the jury understand what they need to know. Daily, he's instructing the lawyers about what still needs to have explained. For example, he said "It has been said that there is an elaborate series of relationships amongst the APIs. Want to learn more about how programmers use the APIs." (Again, this may not be his exact words.) The judge has decided he will be ruling on the Copyrightability of the API (since it's a question of law). Among other things, the jury will decide whether Google's use of the APIs is fair use should they be covered by Copyright. (The judge will instruct the jury that the APIs are covered by Copyright.) Noone on the jury works in IT.	[reply]
Re^2: Copyright on languages (Late breaking news!) by BrowserUk (Patriarch) on May 03, 2012 at 02:47 UTC
This just in is the final nail in the coffin of the idea that "functionality (as opposed to implementation) can be copyrighted"; at least as far as Europe is concerned.	[reply]