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Re: Computer generated Almanac
From: Fred Hebard
Date: 2003 Sep 9, 16:35 -0400
From: Fred Hebard
Date: 2003 Sep 9, 16:35 -0400
Rino, If I were out on the ocean in a small boat, I'd much rather have a printed copy than an electronic one. Fred On Tuesday, Sep 9, 2003, at 16:22 US/Eastern, Rino van Dam wrote: > Since Her Majesty's Nautical Almanac Office makes available the > formulas > needed to calculate values as they are printed in the NA (in the > 'AstroNav > PC...' book), I wouldn't worry too much about reproducing your own NA, > with > a layout similar to the original NA. > > I suspect they are much more relaxed about it than some members of this > list... :-) Within a few years the printed Almanac will be a thing of > the > past anyway, or at least a very distant second to computer based > calculations. > > Rino > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Navigation Mailing List > [mailto:NAVIGATION-L@LISTSERV.WEBKAHUNA.COM] > On Behalf Of Jared Sherman > Sent: Tuesday, September 09, 2003 12:10 > To: NAVIGATION-L@LISTSERV.WEBKAHUNA.COM > Subject: Re: Computer generated Almanac > > George, let me try to rephrase this clearly. > >> From what is being said, one could boil it down to: > > "The USNO does not actually publish their own almanac tables, but only > inserts some cover matter around the British HMNAO tables. So the USNO > are > simply acting as agents for the British and, as they are agents not > authors, > copyright is not what it would be for a US author." > > That's one issue to bed. > > else copied that complex layout in every detail, typeface and all,> > > That's something else entirely. If one copies the *layout* of tables, > it is > unlikely to be copyright infringement due to the exemption for basic > graphic > materials. The specific example of this is a typical calendar layout, > rows > of seven days times 5 weeks, more or less. That "design" cannot be > copyrighted. However, once you go beyond the basic utility of the > design, if > you start replicating those areas like typefaces, you are more likely > to be > found in violation. The finding is not a point of law, but a judicial > finding on the specifics of the matter. > > I could probably make a case for saying "The basic layout of these > tables is > 100 years old, and the entire community of navigators worldwide has > been > trained to use the physical layout. Therefore, the layout is as a > calendar, > and exempt." But I'm never dare to try setting the matter with the > exact > same type. With upwards of 100,000 typefaces available on the market > today, > that would be like flying a mylar kite in a lightning storm. And > graphically, I'm sure that the table matter itself could be presented > in > better form. Clearer, perhaps tighter, certainly using some of the > skills of > graphic design--which HMNO weren't paid to do. > > Since the actual "heart" of the almanac is simply the result of > repetitive > mathematical iteration, it is not creative work and unless the actual > formula was protected (yes, there are protections for formulas too) > anyone > should be able to set up a loop on a computer and print out results to > their > heart's delight. > > Being neither a barrister, solicitor, Crown Counsel, or simple lawyer, > I > make no argument and give no advice except to say that in theory I > should be > capable of reading and understanding what my government has posted on > this. > And, at least I've read them.> >