A lawyer once explained the difference between copyright and patent

From: Bill Taylor <dg1020!w_taylor[_at_]n8ino.Mainstream.com>
Date: Sat, 2 Apr 1994 07:42:16 -0500


A lawyer once explained the difference between copyright and patent thus:

If Shakespaerre had patented Romeo and Juliet as opposed to copyrighting it, West Side Story would have infringed because the two stories are virtually identical. However, West Side Story was a sufficiently different experession of the idea that it did not violate the R&J copyright.

Is this explanation accurate enough for non-lawyers?

(Bill Taylor)
bill[_at_]mainstream.com Received on Sat Apr 02 1994 - 13:40:35 GMT

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