Re: Not copyrighting facts (RE: copyrighting FACTS???)

["Joseph J. Esposito" <espositoj@worldnet.att.net>]

The bill does not grant copyright status to facts in the database.  That
is simply wrong.  The bill says you can't copy a database someone else put
together, but nothing stops anyone from independently aggregating the same
facts.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Seth Johnson" <seth.johnson@realmeasures.dyndns.org>
To: <liblicense-l@lists.yale.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2003 3:24 PM
Subject: Re: Not copyrighting facts (RE: copyrighting FACTS???)

> Rick Anderson wrote:
>
> > > objections from Democrats that the bill
> > > would allow owners of databases to secure copyright-like
> > > protections on facts within databases, not just.."
> >
> > People arguing for or in behalf of controversial bills often indulge
> > in overheated rhetoric, so it's important to take the
> > characterizations of a bill's opponents (or its proponents, for that
> > matter) with a grain or two of salt.  Just because those who oppose
> > the bill say that it would give "copyright-like protections" to
> > facts does not mean that the bill itself would, in fact, allow
> > database providers to copyright facts.
>
> This is the most bizarre statement.  The bill is giving copyright-like
> protections to facts contained in databases.  That's the whole point of it
> -- create exclusive rights to facts in databases.  Either you are saying
> nothing in response to the point, or you are just plain trying to
> obfuscate the issue.
>
> Seth Johnson