diff --git a/dlib/svm/function.h b/dlib/svm/function.h
index 59a21ba8a..f86e9c1d9 100644
--- a/dlib/svm/function.h
+++ b/dlib/svm/function.h
@@ -64,20 +64,6 @@ namespace dlib
             basis_vectors(basis_vectors_)
         {}
 
-        decision_function& operator= (
-            const decision_function& d
-        )
-        {
-            if (this != &d)
-            {
-                alpha = d.alpha;
-                b = d.b;
-                kernel_function = d.kernel_function;
-                basis_vectors = d.basis_vectors;
-            }
-            return *this;
-        }
-
         result_type operator() (
             const sample_type& x
         ) const
@@ -169,19 +155,6 @@ namespace dlib
             decision_funct(decision_funct_)
         {}
 
-        probabilistic_function& operator= (
-            const probabilistic_function& d
-        )
-        {
-            if (this != &d)
-            {
-                alpha = d.alpha;
-                beta = d.beta;
-                decision_funct = d.decision_funct;
-            }
-            return *this;
-        }
-
         result_type operator() (
             const sample_type& x
         ) const
@@ -277,19 +250,6 @@ namespace dlib
             decision_funct(decision_funct_)
         {}
 
-        probabilistic_decision_function& operator= (
-            const probabilistic_decision_function& d
-        )
-        {
-            if (this != &d)
-            {
-                alpha = d.alpha;
-                beta = d.beta;
-                decision_funct = d.decision_funct;
-            }
-            return *this;
-        }
-
         result_type operator() (
             const sample_type& x
         ) const
@@ -454,20 +414,6 @@ namespace dlib
         const sample_vector_type& get_basis_vectors (
         ) const { return basis_vectors; }
 
-        distance_function& operator= (
-            const distance_function& d
-        )
-        {
-            if (this != &d)
-            {
-                alpha = d.alpha;
-                b = d.b;
-                kernel_function = d.kernel_function;
-                basis_vectors = d.basis_vectors;
-            }
-            return *this;
-        }
-
         result_type operator() (
             const sample_type& x
         ) const
diff --git a/dlib/svm/function_abstract.h b/dlib/svm/function_abstract.h
index 3da6485ca..0364be018 100644
--- a/dlib/svm/function_abstract.h
+++ b/dlib/svm/function_abstract.h
@@ -75,15 +75,6 @@ namespace dlib
                   b term, and kernel function.
         !*/
 
-        decision_function& operator= (
-            const decision_function& d
-        );
-        /*!
-            ensures
-                - #*this is identical to d
-                - returns *this
-        !*/
-
         result_type operator() (
             const sample_type& x
         ) const
@@ -179,15 +170,6 @@ namespace dlib
                   and decision function.
         !*/
 
-        probabilistic_function& operator= (
-            const probabilistic_function& d
-        );
-        /*!
-            ensures
-                - #*this is identical to d
-                - returns *this
-        !*/
-
         result_type operator() (
             const sample_type& x
         ) const
@@ -299,15 +281,6 @@ namespace dlib
                   and decision_function.
         !*/
 
-        probabilistic_decision_function& operator= (
-            const probabilistic_decision_function& d
-        );
-        /*!
-            ensures
-                - #*this is identical to d
-                - returns *this
-        !*/
-
         result_type operator() (
             const sample_type& x
         ) const
@@ -518,15 +491,6 @@ namespace dlib
                 - returns the set of basis vectors contained in this object
         !*/
 
-        distance_function& operator= (
-            const distance_function& d
-        );
-        /*!
-            ensures
-                - #*this is identical to d
-                - returns *this
-        !*/
-
         result_type operator() (
             const sample_type& x
         ) const;
@@ -696,15 +660,6 @@ namespace dlib
                 - populates this object with the vector_normalizer and function object 
         !*/
 
-        normalized_function& operator= (
-            const normalized_function& d
-        );
-        /*!
-            ensures
-                - #*this is identical to d
-                - returns *this
-        !*/
-
         result_type operator() (
             const sample_type& x
         ) const
@@ -797,15 +752,6 @@ namespace dlib
                   and kernel function.
         !*/
 
-        projection_function& operator= (
-            const projection_function& d
-        );
-        /*!
-            ensures
-                - #*this is identical to d
-                - returns *this
-        !*/
-
         long out_vector_size (
         ) const;
         /*!