Date   : Wed, 20 Apr 2011 16:28:47 +0100
From   : paul2004v@... (Paul Vernon)
Subject: making replica acorn cards

 
> stuart wrote:
> > So if I design a replica card, and publish the designs I might not not
> > be breaking copyright at all!
> 
> You've designed a replica, you aren't using the original. You can't
> copyright an idea, only an implementation. If your implementation
> of the functional idea is expressed differently, it is a different
> work.

Although, you could still be breaking wider intellectual property laws such 
as patent laws if you effectively recreate the tangible artifact based on 
the intangible "idea" of operation. I'm no lawyer but I know that IPR battles 
are some of the most costly legal processes going on today. Just look at 
Apple, MS, Oracle, Google, Sony, Samsung to name just a few who sue each
other over IPR "patent infringements" all the time. Apple are currently suing
Samsung becasue their Galaxy S phone *looks* too much like an iPhone in operation
for instance.

I'm sure that the IPR of all Acorn kit will still be owned by someone although,
I'm not sure they'd bother enforcing their rights for such old designs and
equipment. The point here is that they could do.

Paul