> Let's say I write up something, put it in an envelope, seal 
> that envelope
> and put it in a lock box to which I don't have a key, and 
> make sure that I
> have a definite proof (through the lock box owner, by a sufficiently
> "definite" procedure) that I put that specific work in the lock box on
> 2005-12-23. 
> 
> Can I later claim that I "published" this work for copyright 
> uses?

AFAIK not, at least not in my country. Your proof might be handy in some
other situations (like claiming that the ideas in your writing were
yours at that date, hence not developed lateron in some employee
situation), but no-publication == no-copyright established.

> you need to prove that somebody copied your work.

AFIK you need to prove that someone *could* have copied your work,
because it was publicly available. Whether someone actually did this is
not important, although it might be difficult to prove your publication
unless some independent party recorded it :)

> I also think that I could use it as prior art in later patent disputes
> (which of course is a different question than copyright). 

Again, no. Prior art is to be interpreted as prior art in the common
(accessible) domain ("as accessible or know to a crafstman in the
applicable field").

Wouter van Ooijen

-- -------------------------------------------
Van Ooijen Technische Informatica: www.voti.nl
consultancy, development, PICmicro products
docent Hogeschool van Utrecht: www.voti.nl/hvu
 

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