On 5/11/06, Ben Lowe ben.lowe@gmail.com wrote:
I'm sure a lawyer such as Mr. Abramson or a font of knowledge such as Mr. Smith can confirm this, but it is my understanding that lists of factual information are ineligible for copyright; a work must be an "original work of authorship." Phone books, for instance, are not eligible for copyright. I would imagine this list falls under the same blanket of ineligibility (an insecurity blanket?).
Ben
Phone books are not eligible for copyright because there is no creativity involved in choosing which phone numbers go in (everyone in a city) or what way they are arranged (alphabetical order). If a collection of facts contains a creative selection or arrangement, it is copyrightable.
All of this is based on US law.
Anthony