[WikiEN-l] Copyright status of press releases

[Christiaan Briggs]

Jimmy (Jimbo) Wales wrote:

> Christiaan Briggs wrote:
>> Judging from all the conflicting information on the net, a lot of it 
>> from reputable sources, it seems anything but clear. I've yet to see 
>> one person cite a conclusive source in regard to law.
>>
>> There is the argument that anything published is copyrighted unless 
>> stated otherwise, however it is possible that the very word "release" 
>> could be construed as such a statement. Who knows? I don't. And 
>> nobody I've discussed this with on Wikimedia, so far, seems to know 
>> either.
>
> You have been given a direct clear answer, but you don't seem to like 
> it.

I've been given many clear answers half of which contradict the other 
clear answers.

> If you can approach the major press release bureaus and persuade them 
> to release all their work, or some portion of it, under a free 
> license, or if you can secure a direct release from individual 
> companies who would like to do the same, then by all means we can 
> surely publish these on wikisource.

Great.

Christiaan