22 Dec
1998
22 Dec
'98
4:47 a.m.
At 06:01 PM 12/22/98 +1, Hans Franke wrote:
In this case, Ebay *created* the data. The information is theirs.
They can control how it is revealed and sold or given away. For all
we know, they *are* already compiling sales figures and will be
charging for it in the future, as Chuck so wisely pointed out.
Collection and compilation copyright is well-known and well-tested.
I haven't looked, but I'll bet a doughnut that Ebay's fine print
claims ownership of every bit of info on the site.
The "actual purpose" is to allow *anyone*, large or small, to protect
their intellectual property. If someone on this list made a web site
of the non-Ebay, CCCCS (classic computer collector Common Sense) price of
old computers, the same principle protects your "data" from being
ripped-off by someone who wasn't willing to do the footwork.
- John
Eric Smith <eric(a)brouhaha.com>
> Maybe in Germany. In the US, Congress just keeps making copyright law
worse
and worse,
with the supposed justification of bringing us into 'compliance'
with the rest of the world. The actual purpose is to make it easier for
large businesses to turn a quick buck, and small businesses and consumers
be damned.
Just tell me you are joking - next time someone copyrights the
number 5 and you have to pay to use it ? C'mon, they CAN'T
copyright data - only representations ... It can't go that way.