Anyone can copy an experimental "design", there is no copy-right for the concept, unless it is type certified by the FAA
QUOTE]
Zoomer,
Where did you get that concept from? Type certification has nothing to do with copy-right law. Something either has been copy-righted and has protection, or it doesn't. Being experimental doesn't limit the right to copy-right an idea and being certified doesn't automatically copy-right an idea. Unless I misunderstand the basics of copy-right law, the statement above is totally off the mark. Anyone that KNOWS for sure, please let me know if I am wrong.
From what we've all been able to determine, copyrights do not extend to three dimensional objects. They only cover two-dimensional objects except in the case of waterborne vessel hulls.
So the drawings would be covered under copyright, but not the airframe itself.
Seems odd, but it is how it is explained on copyright.gov.