Binary encoding of information requires an encoder and decoder. The binary form cannot be copyrighted since it is fundamentally a very large number and nobody owns a number (well, maybe Sesame Street). Nobody owns file names and nobody owns file name extensions. So basically, I can use a file named "War_And_Peace.txt" to store a very, very large number that I happen to like. I can "tell" my friend of my favourite number by sending this "number" to him. Unless I say that the encoding is 8 bit ASCII text, then I don't think I've voilated any laws eh?
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Binary encoding of information requires an encoder and decoder. The binary form cannot be copyrighted since it is fundamentally a very large number and nobody owns a number (well, maybe Sesame Street). Nobody owns file names and nobody owns file name extensions. So basically, I can use a file named "War_And_Peace.txt" to store a very, very large number that I happen to like. I can "tell" my friend of my favourite number by sending this "number" to him. Unless I say that the encoding is 8 bit ASCII text, then I don't think I've voilated any laws eh?