Can you copyright a form of HTML???

[Gtk]

What is the name of your state? IA

I understand you can copyright the content of a webpage but can you copyright a line of HTML code??? I have someone telling me they hold the copyright to the use of CSS files on YAHOO groups...all the stuff this guys has sent me has been bogus...but then he sends me this letter from LAWYER@ (hisdomain) .com :

THIS IS A CEASE AND DESIST NOTICE
***********************************************************************
Pending Compliance We have Filed with State of Texas against you.....
CAUSE #0512698548J Date 01/31/2005

State of Texas &
Paradise City Models Promtions L.L.C.
vs
DEFENDANT:
XXXXX
aka: XXXXX
ADDITIONAL DEFENDANT:
XXXXXX
DBA: XXXXXX

DBA:XXXXXX

COMES NOW STATE OF TEXAS AND (hisdomin)
TO HAVE JUDGE GRANT US THE RIGHT TO TERMINATE THE ABOVE LISTED
WEBSITES FOR DIRECT COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT AND AWARD (hisdomin) and it's Owners/Operators a SUM OF NO LESS
THAN $5.8 MILLION DOLLARS IN DAMAGES AND FOREVER BAR THE REOPENING OF
ANY WEBSITE BY ANY OF THE DEFENDANTS ..................
CASE NOTES:
Date: 01/31/2005 TIME:2:45 P.M. Entered By:JW #3598741171
Cause has been TENATIVELY FILED .....NO ACTION BY COURT AT THIS TIME
Pending compliance with Cease and Desist E-MAIL


Now this letter even looks bogus...but I dont want to pay the money to see a 'real' lawyer over this if this guy is trying to smoke me....

So I guess my question is ....can he hold copyright to use this HTML

<link rel="stylesheet"href="insert css link here"
TYPE="text/css">

a line of code that is available in every html help book and webpage out there .....

and where can I find proof that you can-or can not- copyright this stuff...so I can get him off my back....

again..I am creating my own css file...and putting it up...hosting it off my server...no connections to him except I learned how he did his back ground...a css file...

thanks


Gtk

 

[BelizeBreeze]

What is the EXACT Href link reference you are using which is the subject of the e-mail.?

 

[Gtk]

the exact link

IOWA



this it the exact link that I am using....a graphic I created


<link rel="stylesheet"href="http://tinyurl.com/3m23b"
TYPE="text/css">

it is the link to my css file and that links to my server to the graphic:

http://tk-productions.org/tkproductions/kingdomback2.gif


Gtk

 

[divgradcurl]

A css link is not copyrightable subject matter, so he can't hold a copyright on simply a css link. You can look up the copyright office's circular 61 which discuss just exactly what part of computer programs and code is copyrightable: http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ61.pdf

If he does have a copyright, and he is planning on suing you, he needs to have the copyright registered, and you can search for the registered copyright at www.copyright.gov.

What does YOUR lawyer say about all of this?