[Discuss] can you copyright an API?

[Tom Metro]

Tom Metro wrote:
> Mostly is seems this is coming down to the issue of whether you can
> patent an API - the names of classes, methods, and their arguments.

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2012/05/jury-rules-google-violated-copyright-law-google-moves-for-mistrial.ars

  ...a San Francisco jury issued a verdict today that the company broke
  copyright laws when it used Java APIs to design the system. ... But
  the jury couldn't reach agreement on a second critical issue--whether
  Google had a valid "fair use" defense when it used the APIs. Google
  has asked for a mistrial based on the incomplete verdict, and that
  issue will be briefed later this week.