ICANN Takes Over Time Zone Database; Dares Astrolabe To Sue
from the relax,-we've-got-it dept
You probably heard a few weeks ago about how an astrology software company, Astrolabe, claimed it now controlled the copyright for the historical time zone database that nearly every Linux and Unix system uses to set clocks to local time… and was suing the two individuals who maintain the database. Of course, plenty of people have pointed out that you can’t copyright facts, but facing a lawsuit is no fun, no matter how you look at it.
Late last week, however, ICANN announced that it was taking over the time zone database and would continue to maintain it. It also wasted no time effectively daring Astrolabe to sue it:
“We are aware of the lawsuit,” [Kim Davies, a technical manager at ICANN] said. “We believe it’s important to continue the operation of the database. We’ll deal with any legal matters as they arise.”
In other words: Hey Astrolabe, try suing us, because we’re ready for you.
Filed Under: copyright, facts, lawsuits, time zone
Companies: astrolabe, icann
Comments on “ICANN Takes Over Time Zone Database; Dares Astrolabe To Sue”
My first thought ...
was “**** yeah, go ICANN!”
Re: Second thought...
“Oh crap, ICANN…”
Re: My first thought ...
Astrolabe probably wet their pants =D
And to quote Obama on this awesome taunt: Yes, ICANN!
I bet Astrolabe is asking
I wonder if ICANN sue them?
Re: I bet Astrolabe is asking
*Thock*
Note: I did press funny on your punny
ICANN has my support. Copyright bullies should be treated like the jerkoffs that they are, and Astrolabe is no different.
TD certainly needs a section for celebratory posts so that we can readily identify the companies and individuals seemingly* fighting the good fight.
Maybe update this to something a tad more technical than email:
“current time zone information, which comes from tips sent by volunteers through an email list.”
maybe a blog like this where they could connect with fans by always being sold out of T-shirts 🙂
labe!
Suing over facts is so labe!
is this the equivalent of “Come at me bro”?
Looks like the big brother showed up.
I see your stock falling... falling...
I guess Astrolabe didn’t foresee this.
This should be from the “feeling lucky, punk?” dept.
Maybe ICANN will be kind and give astrolabe some astrolube when they SLAPP them around!
What facts are we talking about?
Time zones are not facts … they are an invention for human convenience. The earth does not rotate in one hour increments. The earth rotates once a day, but decided/declared that there are exactly 24 hours in a day, which we know is not exactly correct.
So I’m glad ICANN is taking some action, I don’t think anyone’s trying to copyright any facts here. If I’m wrong, please point it out so I can be a little smarter next time.
Peace,
Rob:-]
Re: What facts are we talking about?
Based on the logic of your post…..
Names are not facts as they are an invention for human convenience. When you were born instead of giving you a number based on your birth order (an actual fact, but hard to track) you were given a name. And most likely your name is Robert so Rob is not exactly correct either.
Does that mean I can sue you for being named Rob since it is not a fact?
Can you sue somebody else for using the name Rob or Robert?
Re: What facts are we talking about?
Inventions are not facts?
Re: What facts are we talking about?
The problem with your reasoning is basically a category error. The tzdata database stores facts about timezones, not the concept of having timezones itself.
The database contains facts like “The Australia/Canberra timezone is offset +10 hours from UTC, except in the summer months when it is offset +11”.
Governments around the world have a nasty habit of repartioning their time zones and fiddling with the Daylight Saving rules. We need a database to keep track of all those rules and the changes to them, so that we can work with dates and times in software.
Re: What facts are we talking about?
Please see Feist Publications v Rural Telephone Service (1991).
In part III of that opinion, Justice O’Connor makes clear that ?the names, towns, and telephone numbers of 1,309 of Rural’s subscribers? are ?uncopyrightable facts?.
In the copyright context, the word ?fact? may approach something of a term-of-art. I hesitate to say that it does, but telephone numbers, in particular, are invented ?facts?. Invented by the telephone company: Rural Telephone Company.
Re: What facts are we talking about?
Veeck v SBCI (5th Cir., 2002)
The Astrolabe v Olson case is in the First Circuit, so the Fifth Circuit’s opinion in Veeck is merely pursuasive for that case.
Re: What facts are we talking about?
Note that Astrolabe v Olson et al is in the District of Massachusetts. A case from that district is Skinder-Strauss v Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education (D.Mass., 1995), where the court opined that, in the context of copyright, information about time zones was so-called ?common property.?
Emphasis on ?a national map including time zones?.
Don’t mess with ICANN. They’re the ONE entity that CAN make you disappear from the internet…
Re: Re:
> They’re the ONE entity that CAN make you disappear from the internet…
No, they cannot. They do not have that power.
Re: Re: Re:
Sure they can. I can envision an announcement in a few days that will state. “Organizations suing ICANN will not have their Internet addresses and domains renewed.”
That should just about do it.
Interesting move by a group that is more typically associated with screwing the Little Guy.
In any case, well played ICANN! Astrolab^Hme, your move!
Am people say copyright don’t impact others.
It has a negative impact on everything just look at it.
…That the internets know where they are? Seriously we don’t need to be fortune tellers to find out that they are in Massachusetts, they list it on their website. I’ve got a friend who runs in those circles, maybe I can get a meet and greet and talk some sense into them, since they obviously can’t tell how bad of an outcome this will be.
I wonder.....
… if this means “time” will now be shut off for random timezones because the DHS has determined that time is a major factor in piracy (synonymous with terrorism of course) and asks ICANN nicely?
ICANN has internets nao plz?
Re: Re:
ALL YOUR TIME ZONES ARE BELONG TO US!
We need someone courageous enough to challenge the flaws in our outrageous laws. Even though I can’t do it, ICANN can do it.
Ouch. This is like suing a small software company then finding out it’s a shell corporation funded by Microsoft.