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Calling computers “copy machines” is a metaphor for how they move and duplicate data while processing it—not a formal definition, and not a claim that copying is all they do. One useful description of computing’s basic operations is “calculate, compare and copy.”
What does “computers are copy machines” mean?
A computer often has to move information from one place to another before software can use it. For example, it loads a program and its data from storage or a network into memory. As the program runs, it may copy or rearrange data between memory locations so the computer can calculate with it, compare it, or prepare it for display or printing.
ComputerLanguage.com describes these operations as the “3 C’s”: calculate, compare and copy. In that account, copying is one fundamental part of computing, alongside the other two operations—not a complete definition of what a computer does. ComputerLanguage.com’s explanation of the 3 C’s attributes the phrase to Alan Freedman and says it was coined in the 1970s; that attribution is the site’s account, not independently established origin history.
Do computers mostly copy data?
The metaphor does not establish what share of a computer’s work consists of copying. It is more useful as a reminder that information processing depends on data being moved and arranged as well as calculated and compared. A computer can copy a value to another memory location, but the larger task may involve transforming that value, testing it, or using it to produce a result.
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Is computer data copying the same as copying a copyrighted work?
No. In computing, copying describes an operation on data—for example, moving a value between memory locations. Copyright discussions use “copy” in a legal context, with different definitions and questions, including what work is fixed and what rights apply. The metaphor alone does not tell you whether a particular act is permitted or infringing.
In the 2023 edition of U.S. Code Title 17, § 101, a “computer program” is defined as a set of statements or instructions used directly or indirectly in a computer to bring about a result. The section defines “copies” as material objects in which a work is fixed. These statutory definitions serve a legal purpose and are not simply descriptions of memory operations. See the 2023 edition of 17 U.S.C. § 101. For a current, jurisdiction-specific legal question, consult the current law and relevant authorities.
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A 2013 essay applies the phrase to digital communication, arguing that sending content through email or social networks involves making copies. That is the essay author’s framing of communication and copyright, not a complete statement of copyright law. “We are all indie bands now” should be read in that context; its assertion that copying makes up “90%” of computer activity is rhetorical, not a substantiated measurement.
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Where has the phrase been used?
The phrase appears in more than one context, rather than having one established canonical use. A 2011 installment of the Mimi & Eunice comic, “Copy Animals,” includes Eunice’s line: “Cameras are copy machines. Computers are copy machines.” The comic demonstrates the phrase’s use as a metaphor; it does not supply a formal technical definition. Read “Copy Animals” (August 19, 2011).
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