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Archiver > ESSEX-UK > 2005-11 > 1131228288


From: "Philip Maddocks" <>
Subject: Re: [Ess] Re: Copyright
Date: Sat, 5 Nov 2005 22:04:48 -0000
References: <028201c5e229$898d6a10$4ce0fea9@home> <029401c5e250$5d7e5a70$070010ac@portable>


There is a lot of nonsense talked about copyright particularly on genealogy
newsgroups.

The information contained in their documents is not copyright; the map I
quoted when someone was looking for Canongate is copyright but the
information I gleaned from reading it - is not! If I photocopied it and
gave it to him that would be a breach.

Could anyone tell me the name of the two-headed dog in Harry Potter? but
before you all reply... the book is copyright. Same rule applies.

The confusion surrounds the licensing of the discs. They are usually sold
under license that the discs are not copied or used for 'look ups' or even
sometimes sold on to others.

What the learned at SoG should be reminding their customers is that they
could be sued for damages if they breach their license agreement. That is
if no one is successful in asking the court to set aside the terms of the
contract under the Unfair Contract Terms Act (1977 I think) beforehand.

The breach of contract does not lie with the request by the OP but with the
SoG customer. The OP did not sign accept any contract from the SoG. You may
be able to prove that someone asked for a look up (but not in this case) but
could you prove that someone responded?

Have I mentioned it's rude to shout.

Philip Maddocks


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