Hide Techdirt is off for the holidays! We'll be back soon, and until then don't forget to check out our fundraiser »

Judge Says Aggregating Content Online Is Legal

from the not-copyright-infringement dept

This case may turn out to be a lot more important than people realize, but a judge has ruled that an aggregator of information on boat sales did not infringe the copyrights of a site they scraped for information. The judge pointed out that the aggregator only took factual info (which is not copyrightable) and the images it took weren’t actually the property of the site, but those who uploaded them. This does leave open the possibility that those users could sue, but considering the fact that they’re trying to sell their boats, they probably appreciate the wider exposure. Of course, all of this might not matter if Congress passes a law allowing companies to copyright databases.


Add Your Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Have a Techdirt Account? Sign in now. Want one? Register here

Comment Options:

Make this the or (get credits or sign in to see balance) what's this?

What's this?

Techdirt community members with Techdirt Credits can spotlight a comment as either the "First Word" or "Last Word" on a particular comment thread. Credits can be purchased at the Techdirt Insider Shop »

Follow Techdirt

Techdirt Daily Newsletter

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get all our posts in your inbox with the Techdirt Daily Newsletter!

We don’t spam. Read our privacy policy for more info.

Ctrl-Alt-Speech

A weekly news podcast from
Mike Masnick & Ben Whitelaw

Subscribe now to Ctrl-Alt-Speech »
Techdirt needs your support! Get the first Techdirt Commemorative Coin with donations of $100
Techdirt Deals
Techdirt Insider Discord
The latest chatter on the Techdirt Insider Discord channel...
Loading...