Jim:
     
     I believe that the design (and thus the drawing) is intellectual 
     property and can be copyrighted.  However, the assembly itself can not 
     be copyrighted.  The royalities gained by the company originating the 
     design would be the profits off the product.
     
     We do not have formal experience in handling intellectual property but 
     are very interested in learning more.
     
     Please call or e-mail.
     
     Regards,
     
     John R. Kretsch, P.E.
     Engineer, Design Assurance
     ADC Video Systems, Meriden, CT
     [log in to unmask]
     (203) 317-4053
     
     
______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: PCB Copyright
Author:  [log in to unmask] at internet-mail 
Date:    04/17/96 08:25
     
     
I'm a participant in TECHNO-L, an e-news mailing list regarding 
intellectual property and technology transfer.  I posted a "simple" 
question there which is still being debated, and someone suggested I post 
it to your list which he says is the list for PCB designers and 
fabricators.
     
The question is, can the design of printed circuit board be copyrighted, 
and royalties charged for each copy produced?  Note that I'm talking PCBs, 
not microcircuits which can be protected as a Mask Work. Most respondents 
in TECHNO-L have concluded that it is not possible to protect the design 
because only artistic expression (and not utility) can be protected by 
copyright.  However, one respondent reported that Israel courts have 
concluded that a PCB design is protectable under copyright.
     
I'm sure you've hashed this over years ago.  If someone would be so kind as 
to enlighten our group, and if possible point us toward an archive of the 
discussion (if it exists), we'd be very grateful.  Thank you.
     
--
James R. ("Jim") Palmer
Licensing Executive
Office of Technology Transfer
Lockheed Martin Energy Systems, Inc. 
Oak Ridge, Tennessee