A note on meromorphic functions that share a set with their derivatives (Q539993)

For a non-constant meromorphic function \(f\) and a set \(S\) of complex numbers, let \(E(S,f)=\bigcup_{a\in S}\{(z, p_z): f(z)-a=0\}\), where \(p_z\) is the multiplicity of the \(a\)-point \(z\). \textit{J. Chang}, \textit{M. Fang} and \textit{L. Zalcman} [Arch. Math. 89, No. 6, 561--569 (2007; Zbl 1148.30012)] proved the following theorem: Let \(f\) be a non-constant entire function and let \(S=\{a,b,c\}\), where \(a\), \(b\) and \(c\) are distinct complex numbers. If \(E(S,f)=E(S,f')\), then either (i) \(f(z)=Ce^z\); or (ii) \(f(z)=Ce^{-z}+\frac23 (a+b+c)\) and \((2a-b-c)(2b-c-a)(2c-a-b)=0\); or (iii) \(f(z)=Ce^{\frac{1\pm i\sqrt{3}}{6}z}+\frac{3\pm i\sqrt{3}}{6}(a+b+c)\) and \(a^2+b^2+c^2-ab-bc-ac=0\), where \(C\) is a nonzero constant. In [J. Math. Anal. Appl. 338, No. 2, 1020--1028 (2008; Zbl 1160.30014)], \textit{J. Chang} and \textit{L. Zalcman} proved that the same is true for non-constant meromorphic function with at most finitely many simple poles, provided that \(c=0\). The author proves that the conclusion of the theorem holds for an arbitrary transcendental meromorphic function with at most finitely many poles. The case when \(f\) is rational remains open.