09/18/07

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The Copyright Database Is Copyrighted

The U.S. Copyright Office's database of copyrighted works is copyrighted. While that may seem to have a certain internal logic, it in fact deprives taxpayers of access to data gathered and maintained with their money. So it is that Carl Malamud, President & CEO of Public.Resource.Org, has asked the Copyright Office to stop charging $86,625 for bulk access to the copyright database and to make it available for free.

A price tag of $86,625 places this database beyond the reach of university libraries, small businesses that wish to provide a better copyright search service, and academics or citizens wishing to analyze the copyright registration process. Additionally, setting copyright restrictions on the copyright database, a "work of the United States Government," runs directly counter to the well-established principle that such works shall be in the public domain.

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Not affiliated with Public.Resource.org but worthy nonetheless

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