> On another listserv, there has been some discussion of whether library
> cataloging records can be freely downloaded from online library catalogs
> and used by other libraries without copyright infringement. Have there
> been any cases specifically deciding whether library cataloging records
> can be protected by copyright ("sweat of the brow") or whether the
> bibliographic information is merely factual? If not, what do you all
> think about copyright protection of cataloging records? This is becoming
> a big issue for libraries, because more and more libraries are making
> their online catalogs freely accessible through the World Wide Web. I'm
> looking forward to hearing what you have to say. Thanks.
The records, since they contain nothing but facts, are only protectable under copyright law if they are compiled in an original fashion. If the entries are organized under the library of Congress numbers or Dewey decimal or some other standard system, then it would seem quite clear under Feist that they would be unprotected.
Paul Heald
<heald[_at_]jd.lawsch.uga.edu>
Received on Mon Feb 24 1997 - 02:45:19 GMT
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