Posted today to CNI-Copyright. Australian law.
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Karsten M. Self <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://www.netcom.com/~kmself
Evangelist, Opensales, Inc. http://www.opensales.org
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Interesting case Australian case recently decided on whether software conforming
to a written specification breaches the copyright in that specification.
http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/cth/federal_ct/2000/1273.html
Court headnotes appear below.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY - copyright - whether written specifications for the
operation of poker machines could be
original literary works - whether the specifications were a product of the
applicant's work, or simply reflected a common industry
standard
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY - copyright - dramatic works - whether written
specifications for the operation of poker
machines could constitute original dramatic works - whether the video display
could constitute a cinematograph film
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY - copyright - infringement - whether respondent's poker
machines infringed the applicant's
copyright in the written specifications for its poker machines - where the games
were substantially similar - where the respondent
pursued a policy of collecting and analysing competitors' games
WORDS AND PHRASES - "scenario" - "choreography"- "cinematograph film" -
"dramatic work"
Copyright Act 1968 ss 10(1), 13 and 31
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| Postal address: Multimedia Database Systems, RMIT
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