Although copyright does apply to computer programs, infringement only occurs
if someone copies the code (and perhaps the look of the icons), not if
someone imitates the functionality by writing their own code to do perform
the same functions. It's been a while since I've read the case, but I think
that was the gist of the Apple v. Microsoft case.
kwg
-----Original Message-----
From: CNI-COPYRIGHT -- Copyright & Intellectual Property
[mailto:CNI-COPYRIGHT[_at_]cni.org] On Behalf Of Agenbroad, James (Civ,ARL/CISD)
Sent: Thursday, August 18, 2005 3:29 PM
To: CNI-COPYRIGHT -- Copyright & Intellectual Property
Subject: [CNI-(C)] Re: [CNI-(C)] Copyright issues regarding fan computer
assistant program for board game.
I completely agree with the principle that game mechanics are properly the subject of patents, not copyrights. However, the same could be said of the algorithms of computer programs, and yet copyrights have become the standard method of protecting their content. As a matter of public policy, the courts seem to be reluctant to allow the "stealing" of peoples creative effort if there is any conceivable, creative way to cover it with the blanket of copyright.
-----Original Message-----
From: CNI-COPYRIGHT -- Copyright & Intellectual Property
[mailto:CNI-COPYRIGHT[_at_]cni.org] On Behalf Of Steve Walmsley
Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2005 6:26 PM
To: CNI-COPYRIGHT -- Copyright & Intellectual Property
Subject: [CNI-(C)] Re: [CNI-(C)] Copyright issues regarding fan computer
assistant program for board game.
> I think that it makes a big difference but I don't know anything about
the copyright law in the UK. For example, in the U.S., the rules for
playing a game are uncopyrigihtable.
Thanks for the informative response. I was particularly interested in
the above. Does this mean someone can produce copies of a game rulebook
or is it that the method of playing a game cannot be copyright but the
textual content of the rulebook is copyright? As a simple example, if
someone created a rulebook which gave instructions on how to generate a
star system in terms of number of planets, habitability, etc., I could
create a program which generated systems according to those rules and
presented the result to the user but I could not display the text from
the rulebook in the program?
If that is the case, could I display the tables providing the values to
use and the chance of each result occuring?
Steve
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