MATLAB: Am I allowed to write functions that have names of matlab functions (copyright)

Question

Hello everyone,

I am not really well versed when it comes to copyright laws. My question is, am I allowed to write a function and give it a name that exists as a Matlab function, for example from a toolbox? Am I allowed to share said functions?

I know that the code within a Matlab supplied function is copyrighted and is property of Matlab, but does this hold also for the names of the functions? For example, may i write my own function, which is called "mvnrnd.m"? Am I allowed to share such a function with someone else?

I can't imagine it would be, since I can have that function name in another coding language and i don't see how Mathworks can sue the other company for something so generic, but I prefer to ask anyways.

I am leaving aside the obvious coding issue if you have two functions with the same name.

Answer 1

Something that has not been touched on: while the name of a function is not copyrightable, the function API (function name + inputs and outputs) might be depending on your jurisdiction. As far as I know (I am not a lawyer), it's not copyrightable in the EU, but in the US the latest ruling is that they are (after an earlier ruling that they weren't).

This is very relevant for you as you are not just replicating a function name but the whole signature (if you are replicating a toolbox function).