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[Anonymous]

What are the copyright principles behind mathematical expressions?  For example, common functions in Calculus (ln x, arcsin x, etc.) have what are known as derivatives - other functions that give certain information about them.  I imagine that the fact that a certain sequence of operations gives the necessary information is not copyrightable, but that the "expression" of the formula for the derivative could be copyrightable.  However, notation in math is fairly standard.  I have seen these formulas repeated in more than one textbook, which makes me wonder who would own the copyright.  Any help here?

[JSonnabend]

Unless there is something "creative" in the formula as written, and further that the expression of the formula is separable from the underlying idea of the formula, you may have an argument.  I doubt that any mathematical formula meets either of those requirements.

- Jeff