Re: Copyrighting the GPL

On Fri, 14 Jun 2002, Matt Seitz wrote:

> --- "Deven T. Corzine" <[email protected]> wrote:
> > Regarding court transcripts, that would include expressive speech by some 
> > witnesses, wouldn't it?  
> 
> Copyright only applies when something is placed in "fixed form" (written, 
> audio recording, etc.).  If something is merely spoken, it is not 
> protected by copyright.    So oral testimony would not be protected.  
> However, any written testimony might raise such issues.

Yeah, I guess oral testimony is a strange case -- the words are those of 
the witness, but it's the court reporter actually putting it in "fixed 
form" unless someone is taping the proceedings.  Of course, if taped, 
aren't there normally privacy laws designed to prevent taping without 
consent?  (Or, perhaps, without implied consent after notification?)

Written testimony is clearly in fixed form, though.  If it's submitted as 
evidence, does it lose its copyright protection?  I have no idea.

Deven