copyright on standards

From: Freya Anderson <freya_anderson[_at_]eed.state.ak.us>
Date: Tue, 15 Apr 2003 23:11:17 -0400

Hello all~

Someone recently told me that standards were considered (US) government documents, and as such do not have copyright protection. I was under the impression that most standards were not created by government work, that they were not considered government documents for copyright purposes, and that clearance was necessary for copying. Looking at an IEEE standard, I see that it has copyright notices all over it, and that it is possible to obtain clearance through the Copyright Clearance Center.

Could someone clarify for me whether or not standards are generally copyrightable?

Thanks!
Freya Anderson

ILL Librarian 	    		 ~around the clock reference service~		
Alaska State Library			 http://library.state.ak.us	

P.O. Box 110571
Juneau, AK 99811
Phone: 907-465-2988, Fax: 907-465-2665
E-mail: freya_anderson[_at_]eed.state.ak.us, ILL email: aslill[_at_]eed.state.ak.us
OCLC - ALK Member: LVIS, BCR, BCR/Amigos Reciprocal Agreements Received on Wed Apr 16 2003 - 07:11:17 GMT