2008-03-12T15:18:36Z opencongress.org tag:opencongress.org,2007:/bill/comments/44654 2008-03-12T15:18:36Z tag:opencongress.org,2008-03-12:/comment/2871 adelie These designs serve a specific purpose and have a utilitarian value, and the more advanced they are, the more they must relate to the nature of sailing. This is clearly outside the scope of copyright law (USC 17 Sec 102). If these METHODS or IDEAS for making a good ship are truly worth protecting they should have to pass the scrutiny of Patent review, exactly as the law intended for inventors. Can anyone explain to me why this needs 'life + 70' years protection versus 17 years? The best article I have ever read on uncopyrightable works, and an explanation. The way I see it (or at least would like to) is "If it could be patented, then it CAN'T be copyrighted". http://www.bitlaw.com/copyright/unprotected.html