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Archiver > COPYRIGHT > 2001-04 > 0987022735


From: Cliff Lamere <>
Subject: Copyright article
Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2001 16:58:55 -0400


Can You Copyright Your Data? by Dick Eastman
....
"For instance, if the original records of a town are difficult to read because of faded ink or poor penmanship, an expert historian with proper experience may be able to decode the information properly and then publish that interpretation of the original records. The interpretation involved constitutes originality and therefore may be copyrighted."

I hope that this is incorrect. If the person interpteting the handwriting ends up with data, they are presenting it as factual. If they have done a really good job, it will be entirely factual. How can their interpretation be copyrightable? Isn't a person's interpretation just part of the "sweat of the brow" that the US Supreme Court (1991) said was not protected by copyright?

I don't see anything original in interpreting something to be what was actually written. If so, just interpreting bad microfilms or photocopies could be claimed as a reason for copyright of facts.

Cliff




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