Imran Ghory wrote in part:
IIRC. Copyright doesn't extend to short phrases or single sentences.
I think that it's the *relative* size that matters.
Ashleigh Brilliant is the writer of Pot-Shots, a syndicated newspaper column/cartoon consisting of brand new pithy saying that he invents for the purpose. He's successfully defended his copyrights against the makers of posters and greeting cards, even though no individual Pot-Shot has more than 17 words. (According to the forewords of his books, his court cases were even groundbreaking.)
-- Toby