Legal Question in Technology Law in California

Public Information Online

What constitutes public information?

This sounds a little silly but I'm going to type out an example of something similar to what I wish to do. If a website contains a list of actors and movies they have starred in, and dates of those movies, etc, is this public information? And can I copy this information, as long as I copy just the simple details (movie, actor, date,...), to my own website without infringing on the other one?

Some websites state in their terms that the information is for personal, non-commercial, does this restrict me in any legal way from copying the info given in the movie example above? What if I wish to use the info in a commercial manner (to bring in advertising revenue, etc)?


Asked on 6/04/08, 4:19 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys

Edward Hoffman Law Offices of Edward A. Hoffman

Re: Public Information Online

The information you describe is in the public domain. The publishers of websites, books and other forums that contain this information own only their presentation of it (including formatting, links, etc.) but not the information itself.

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Answered on 6/04/08, 4:35 pm
Gordon Firemark Law Offices of Gordon P. Firemark

Re: Public Information Online

Mr. Hoffman's answer is mostly correct. Facts are not protected by law, only the particular expression of those facts can be protected by copyright. Still, there have been cases suggesting that the creator of a database of information MAY have a legitimate claim to some rights with respect to the collection, organization and presentation of the data. Be careful that you're not simply making a direct copy of the information, but somehow making the presentation your own. If you are aggregating facts found in several places, you're on the right track. Still, you'll want to consult a lawyer to review the specifics of your situation and advise you directly.

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Answered on 6/04/08, 8:03 pm


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