Re: math formulas...public domain material?

Subject: Re: Re: math formulas...public domain material?

Comments:
: : I am a math teacher. I have created many math formula posters that hang on my classroom walls. Recently a administrator told me that I couldn't display my posters because the "math formulas" were copyrighted material. He used copyrighted math books as his legal means. I responded that the "math formulas" that are displayed were of "general math knowledge" or public domain and that it was permissible to make and display such posters. Besides if one math book claimed the formulas were "their copyrighted material" then how could all of the other math books be using them also. : : My question is...who's right in this situation? Any help in this matter would be great. : : Steve : Dear Steve, : A copyright only protects a mode of expresssion. If you duplicated the formulas displayed from a source with a registered copyright, then there would be a risk. If you use the math forumla identical to what you saw, the essence of the formula ought not be protected except as part of a patent. The copyright protects the mode of expression not its meaning. A mathematic premise is information that can be used. : There wouldn't be lawyers if answer are pat. Problems have to be looked as holograms. Each angle has a different meaning to different people. : M. Arthur Auslander : Auslander & Thomas-Intellectual Property Law Since 1909 : 505 Eighth Avenue, New York, NY 10018 : 212-594-6900, fax 212-244-0028, aus@auslander.com : ELAINE's Workshop (sm) : E arly L egal A dvice I s N ot E xpensive

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