Re: copyright expiration as a spur to creativity

From: Dan L Burk <BURKDANL[_at_]shu.edu>
Date: Tue, 08 Sep 1998 20:30:11 -0400

On 9/8/98, Albert Henderson <noblestation[_at_]compuserve.com> wrote:
>
> Michael A. Scarpitti <mscarpit[_at_]asnt.org> wrote:
> >
> > In the first place, IP cannot really be "owned", only the
> > reproduction rights can be owned. It's only real value lies
> > precisely in its availability to others, for a price.
>
> A trade secret is certainly owned and valued for its exclusivity
> and unavailability to others. I believe Xerox Corporation keeps
> its toner forumla a secret.

I should know better than to get involved in this. I really should.

In the first place, Mr. Scarpitti was clearly talking about copyrights, not trade secrets. In the second place, trade secrets are NOT exclusive. They are only protected from misappropriation.

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Dan L. Burk
Seton Hall University
burkdanl[_at_]shu.edu

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Received on Wed Sep 09 1998 - 00:23:59 GMT