recipe copyright

[Guest guest]

Hi Ladies,

 

My husband is the Library Director at a school where they have a

culinary program. He has had to thoroughly investigate the question

of sharing recipes for their chefs.

 

The person who stated that you cannot copyright ingredients is

correct. Even the recipe itself isn't subject to copyright, it can

be trademarked.

 

It's the actual layout of the recipe in the book (text and photo)

that can be copyrighted and published. Copyright exist to protect

the author from loosing revenue and someone else profiting from their

work. As in the lawsuit of Missy Lapine and Jessica Seinfeld for her

book The Sneaky Chef.

 

So, for example, it is NOT legal to photo copy a recipe from a book

and distribute it. That is using the author's layout, photo, etc.

and possibly having someone else profit from it.

 

It is legal for anyone to type up, or handwrite a published recipe

and distribute to others. As a courtesy, you may credit the author

and source as it may in fact send others to go purchase that book.

 

Bottom line, feel confident that you can legally share recipes here.

If anyone wants to read it, I can have him get the copyright section

from the Title 17 US code.