Can I copyright data in a spreadsheet or database?

1 Answers

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   Aaron Hall, Minnesota Lawyer on Dec 30, 2011 Log in to Reply

   Yes. The data in a database or data in a spreadsheet can be protected by copyright.

   For example, if you compile a list of names, addresses, and phone numbers and publish them in a phonebook, it would be copyright infringement for someone to copy those without your permission. Of course, if they wanted to compile their own phonebook with the same information, that would be fine as long as they don’t copy yours.

   To determine if unauthorized copying has occurred, those who compile data often include a few false items. For example, they might include some false names and phone numbers. That way, of those names and phone numbers show up in any other phone book, the data was obviously copied.

   Of course, you can’t copyright the software used to contain the data (like Excel) because the software company owns the intellectual property rights to the software (like Microsoft).

   See also:
   http://minnesotaattorney.com/minnesota-intellectual-property-attorney-ramifications-of-copyright-infringement/
   http://minnesotaattorney.com/minnesota-intellectual-property-attorney-defending-against-an-allegation-of-copyright-infringement/
   http://minnesotaattorney.com/minnesota-intellectual-property-attorney-what-is-protected-by-a-copyright/
   http://minnesotaattorney.com/minnesota-intellectual-property-attorney-what-infringes-on-a-copyright/
   http://minnesotaattorney.com/minnesota-intellectual-property-attorney-allegations-of-copyright-infringement-and-defenses/
   http://minnesotaattorney.com/minnesota-intellectual-property-attorney-does-a-copyright-have-to-be-registered-to-be-valid/
   http://minnesotaattorney.com/intellectual-property-mn/copyrights/

   Aaron Hall
   http://MinnesotaAttorney.com

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