From: David Bernier <bernierNObeSPAM@my-deja.com.invalid>
Subject: Re: Copyright issues
Date: Mon, 22 May 2000 05:04:55 -0700
Newsgroups: sci.math
Summary: [missing]

In article <39283B1C.E1D887EA@rug.ac.be>, Hannes Verlinde
<Hannes.Verlinde@rug.ac.be> wrote:
>
>
>Erik Max Francis wrote:
>
>> You cannot copyright a theorem, only your expression of it.
>
>I do not want to copyright it, all I want is to make sure I am recognized
>as being the first person to prove it.

I think digital signatures might help you here.
For example, you could download PGP and create two public-private
key pairs, (Pub1, Priv1) and (Pub2, Priv2).  If myproof.txt
was a file containing your argument, your name, your
address, etc., then you could:
(a) encrypt myproof.txt using the Pub1 key -> myproof_encrypt.txt
(b) sign  myproof_encrypt.txt by encrypting it with the key
    Priv2  ->  myproof_encrypt_signed.txt

(c) disseminate myproof_encrypt_signed.txt by posting it
    to an archived newsgroup (I'm not sure if sci.math
    would be right, but there are thousands of NG's to choose
    from)
(d) then send myproof.txt to a journal or post it to sci.math
    (once myproof_encrypt_signed.txt is archived).

If someone claimed prior discovery, they would have to
give a date.  In that case, you could reveal your Priv1
secret key to a judge who could confirm that the posted
myproof_encrypt_signed.txt originated from myproof.txt and
so that myproof.txt was created by you prior to the posting
date of myproof_encrypt_signed.txt (I think...?)

If you don't want to use encrytption/signatures, maybe it's best
to send the manuscript to a reputable journal and not post
your manuscript.

David Bernier

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