Quote:
Originally Posted by dhbailey
Certainly the person who developed the coca-cola formula has been able to leave it to future generations of the same family, why shouldn't the author of a book written at the same time be able to share the same good fortune?
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Apples oranges and peaches
A trade secret is just that -- secret. If I were able to deduce the forumula, I could legally sell JeffCola that tasted exactly the same. A hotel is
physical property. And a book is copywritable. Originally under US laws copywritable for a very limited time, then passed into the public domain.
In a fair society Horatio Hornblower would be free to all, along with Jack Aubrey and Dr. Maturin.