diff --git a/src/proc/mobject/session/scope-path.cpp b/src/proc/mobject/session/scope-path.cpp
index aaffc2780..40c19cd2d 100644
--- a/src/proc/mobject/session/scope-path.cpp
+++ b/src/proc/mobject/session/scope-path.cpp
@@ -26,24 +26,19 @@
 #include "proc/mobject/session/scope-locator.hpp"
 #include "proc/mobject/session/session-service-explore-scope.hpp"
 #include "proc/mobject/mobject.hpp"
-#include "lib/util-foreach.hpp"
 #include "lib/itertools.hpp"
 #include "lib/symbol.hpp"
 #include "lib/error.hpp"
+#include "lib/util.hpp"
 
-#include <tr1/functional>
 #include <algorithm>
 
 namespace mobject {
 namespace session {
   
   using std::reverse;
-  
-  using std::tr1::bind;
-  using std::tr1::function;
-  using std::tr1::placeholders::_1;
   using lib::append_all;
-  using util::and_all;
+  using util::isSameObject;
   
   using namespace lumiera;
   
@@ -112,6 +107,30 @@ namespace session {
   }
   
   
+  ScopePath::ScopePath (ScopePath const& o)
+    : refcount_(0)
+    , path_(o.path_)
+  { }
+  
+  /**
+   * Copy from existing path
+   * @throw error::Logic when current path has nonzero refcount
+   */
+  ScopePath&
+  ScopePath::operator= (ScopePath const& ref)
+  {
+    if (0 < refcount_)
+      throw error::Logic ("Attempt to overwrite a ScopePath with nonzero refcount");
+    
+    if (!isSameObject (*this, ref))
+      {
+        path_ = ref.path_;
+        ENSURE (0 == refcount_);
+      }
+    return *this;
+  }
+  
+  
   ScopePath::~ScopePath()
   {
     WARN_IF (refcount_, session, "Destroying a scope path frame with ref-count=%lu", refcount_);
@@ -129,7 +148,7 @@ namespace session {
   ScopePath::isValid()  const
   {
     return (1 < length())
-#ifndef NDEBUG
+#if NOBUG_MODE_ALPHA
         && hasValidRoot()
 #endif      
            ;
diff --git a/src/proc/mobject/session/scope-path.hpp b/src/proc/mobject/session/scope-path.hpp
index 4eaa6db1f..e0d3792f0 100644
--- a/src/proc/mobject/session/scope-path.hpp
+++ b/src/proc/mobject/session/scope-path.hpp
@@ -36,15 +36,15 @@
  ** A scope path is represented as sequence of scopes, where each Scope is implemented
  ** by a PlacementRef pointing to the »scope top«, i.e. the placement in the session
  ** constituting this scope. The leaf of this path can be considered the current scope.
- ** ScopePath is intended to remember a \em current location within the model, to be
- ** used for resolving queries and discovering contents.
+ ** ScopePath is intended to be used for remembering a \em current location within the
+ ** model, usable for resolving queries and discovering contents.
  ** 
  ** \par operations and behaviour
  ** 
  ** In addition to some search and query functions, a scope path has the ability to 
  ** \em navigate to a given target scope, which must be reachable by ascending and
  ** descending into the branches of the overall tree or DAG (in the general case).
- ** Navigating changes the current path, which usually happens when the current
+ ** Navigating is a mutating operation which usually happens when the current
  ** "focus" shifts while operating on the model.
  ** 
  ** - ScopePath can be default constructed, yielding an \em invalid path.
@@ -55,6 +55,8 @@
  ** - ScopePaths are intended to be handled <b>by value</b> (as are Scopes and
  **   PlacementRefs). They are equality comparable and provide several specialised
  **   relation predicates.
+ ** - while generally copying is permitted, you may not overwrite an ScopePath
+ **   which is attached (referred by a QueryFocus, see below)
  ** - all implementations are focused on clarity, not uttermost performance, as
  **   the assumption is for paths to be relatively short and path operations to
  **   be executed rather in a GUI action triggered context.
@@ -71,7 +73,9 @@
  ** Each of these stack frames represents the current location for some evaluation
  ** context; it is organised as stack to allow intermediate evaluations. Management
  ** of these stack frames is automated, with the assistance of ScopePath by
- ** incorporating a ref-count.
+ ** incorporating a ref-count. Client code usually accesses this mechanism
+ ** through QueryFocus objects as frontend, which is reflected in the
+ ** mentioned embedded refcount
  ** 
  ** @see scope-path-test.cpp
  ** @see Scope
@@ -145,8 +149,13 @@ namespace session {
       ScopePath ();
       ScopePath (Scope const& leaf);
       
+      ScopePath (ScopePath const&);
+      ScopePath&
+      operator= (ScopePath const&);
+      
       static const ScopePath INVALID;
       
+      
       /* == state diagnostics == */
       bool isValid()    const;
       bool empty()      const;