Re: [dvd-discuss] OT: Copyright on ingredient list?

["Michael A Rolenz" <Michael.A.Rolenz(at)aero.org>]

Presumably they are copyrighting the design of the coke can. You can't 
copyright recipes (only the writing of them..and even then one has to have 
a lot of leeway in paraphrasing. There's only so many ways one can write 
"and now break open the egg, and put the contents into the bowl. Stir the 
egg into the flour until it is all mixed well")....OTOH...I wouldn't put 
it past them to try. Wonder if Coke has a website that answers questions? 
"Mr.Coca-Cola, What doe the little ©1997 mean on your can?"




"Kroll, Dave" <Dave_Kroll@cargilldow.com>
Sent by: owner-dvd-discuss@eon.law.harvard.edu
05/31/2002 07:59 AM
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        Subject:        [dvd-discuss] OT:  Copyright on ingredient list?


Sort of offtopic, but it's amazing how the more of this you pay attention
to, the more you see.

I was drinking a can of Diet Coke® yesterday, and noticed that "near" the
ingredient list was a copyright notice.  (©1997).  It was perpendicular to
the ingredients, so may not have been referring to them, but that's what 
it
seemed to be notifying.  My can of Pepsi®, on the other hand, had some
trademark notices, but no copyright notice. 

I wonder what Coke is trying to protect, and why they are bothering.  If I
were to manufacture a cola with the same ranking of ingredients (and
therefore the same ingredient list), would they try to sue me for
infringement?  Or do I have to invoke a fair use defense in order to 
state,
"Diet Coke contains Aspartame"?  Bizarre.


David Kroll