I certainly agree with Mr Cumbow's discussion. One may reflect on
the fact that many languages -- German being one example -- are using
compounded words, and new words (in the formal sense, a word never before
having been printed) are a trivial phenomenon. They crop up very often,
and in any text, the majority of different words ony occurs once, while a
small number of functional word occurs very frequenly, making up 20 - 50
per cent of the total number of words (Zipf's law).
At 17:42 31.08.00 -0700, you wrote:
>Individual words--and even short phrases--cannot be protected by
copyright.
>A writer who coins a new word enriches the language by providing
words that
>others may use. Using too many words that are associated with
one specific
>writer's works might create a problem, however. In addition,
while
>individual words are not protected by copyright law, they may be
protected
>as trademarks if they are used as trademarks in the first place.
Uses solely
>within the text of a fictional work, however, would not likely
be considered
>to have trademark significance.
>
>Robert C. Cumbow
> Graham & Dunn PC
> 1420 Fifth Avenue, 33rd Floor
> Seattle, WA 98101-2390
> 206.340.9619
> 206.340.9599 fax
> rcumbow@grahamdunn.com
>
> Big law firm experience
>> without the big law firm experience®
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>Sent: Wednesday, August 30, 2000 6:09 AM
>To: Multiple recipients of list
>Subject: Made up word
>
>
>I have what seems to be a straight forward question but am having trouble
>finding the answer. If an author uses words that they have made up(such as
>in
>the Harry Potter and other fantasy books) in their book are those words
>themselves copyrighted?
>
>Thanx for any help!
>Jill A. Gregg
>Business & Technology Specialist
>Toledo Lucas County Public Library
>325 Michigan
>Toledo OH 43613
>419-259-5244
>gregg@tlc.lib.oh.us
>
>
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>
Jon Bing
Professor, dr juris
Bestyrer
Institutt for rettsinformatikk
Det juridisk fakultet - Universitetet i Oslo
Norwegian Research Center for Computers and Law
Faculty of Law - University of Oslo
PO Box 6702 St Olavs plass - N-0130 OSLO - Norway
Phone: +47-22-850101 - Fax: +47-22-850102
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Received on Thu Sep 07 2000 - 11:03:19 GMT