[Wikimedia-l] Copyright on Xrays

[Anthony]

On Wed, Aug 22, 2012 at 2:37 PM, geni <geniice at gmail.com> wrote:
> In the case of the US we can consider the constitutional basis of
> copyright "To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by
> securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive
> Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries." So there is no
> reason why a scientific work with no artistic element wouldn't be
> protected by copyright.

The reason is that they are protected by patent.  See
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idea%E2%80%93expression_divide