David:

Regarding your note to Amalyah about "copyright" as a verb, what is the date
of publication of your dictionaries?

Prior to 1978, the only method of receiving a federal copyright was to either
publish the work with a proper copyright notice or register the work with the
US Copyright Office.  Both involved positive action on the part of the
copyright owner.  Therefore, to use copyright as a verb was proper.

After 1977, however, nothing in addition to creating an original work or
authorship in a tangible medium of expression is required for the copyright
to exist.  There is no positive action that brings about copyright protection
for a pre-existing work.

What does it mean, today, to "copyright" a work?  Does it mean that a
copyright notice has been placed on the work?  This does not give the work
copyright protection.  Does it mean that the work has been registered with
the Copyright Office?  This not give copyright protection to the work either.
 After 1-1-78, to "copyright a work" really has no meaning.

Therefore, I must agree with Amalyah.

Robert Lind
Professor of Law
Southwestern University School of Law
Los Angeles, CA 90005
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