> If only the "mode of expression, not the idea embodied in 
> it" is
> copyrighted, how does that compare to copy, say, a novel 
> and publish it
> printed in a different font and layout? AFAIK (and IANAL) 
> this would be
> considered a violation of copyright, wouldn't it? Doesn't 
> this indicate
> that in the copyright there is at least some protection of 
> the "embodied
> idea", not only of the specific expression?

But, you can legally use the general ideas and general gist 
of a copyright item in another work. Stray too close and its 
plagiarism. How close is too close depends to some extent on 
how many $ are involved and whether it's eg Disney on the 
other end of the copying.


        Russell 

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