Question: Can You Copyright Protect A Recipe, Architecture, Diary Or Elvis Sighting?
Answer: A list of recipe ingredients is not protected under copyright law. However, you can copyright if the recipe is accompanied by a substantial amount of literary expression including explanations or directions. You also can copyright a collection of recipes as in a cookbook.
Architecture
Architectural works became subject to copyright protection on December 1, 1990. Copyright law defines "architectural work" as "the design of a building embodied in any tangible medium of expression, including a building, architectural plans, or drawings." Copyright protection extends to any architectural work created on or after December 1, 1990.
Diary
You can register copyright in the diary only if you are the author or the transferee (by will, by inheritance). Copyright is the right of the author of the work or the author's heirs or assignees, not of the one who only owns or possesses the physical work itself. See
Who Can Claim Copyright.
Elvis Sightings
Copyright law does not protect Elvis sightings or any other sightings. However, copyright law will protect your photo (or other depiction) of your Elvis sighting or other sighting. Just send it to the copyright with a
form VA application and the thirty dollar filing fee. No one can lawfully use your photo of your Elvis sighting, although someone else may file his own photo of his sighting. Copyright law protects the original photograph, not the subject of the photograph.
