Re: Life under stupid Database legislation

Bob Stock <bstock[_at_]ucla.edu> wrote:
>
> On 6/15/98, Timothy Phillips <hrothgar[_at_]telepath.com> wrote:
> >
> > HR 2652 would appear to create a perpetual compilation right. As I read
> > the bill, a collection of songs by Elvis would be protected three ways:
> > 1) Copyright in the individual songs, 2) copyright in the compilation,
> > and 3) HR2652-right in the compilation. The first two expire, but the
> > third never does.
>
> It's bad enough that H.R. 2652 has a 15-year term, but the rights do
> expire:
>
> "No criminal or civil action shall be maintained under this chapter for
> the extraction or use of all or a substantial part of a collection of
> information that occurs more than 15 years after the investment of
> resources that qualified the portion of the collection of information
> for protection under this chapter that is extracted or used."
>
> 1208(c).

But what if the owner of the collection of information makes adjustments to the collection of information? Does that not matter? Does the clock start ticking only at the initial 'investment of resources?'

Brooks Constantine
bconstan[_at_]indiana.edu
202-387-8030 Received on Wed Jun 17 1998 - 13:51:08 GMT