RE: [dvd-discuss] Copyright ranges

[Richard Hartman <hartman(at)onetouch.com>]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Thomas Olsson [mailto:dvd-discuss@armware.dk]
> Sent: Thursday, August 08, 2002 3:52 AM
> To: dvd-discuss@eon.law.harvard.edu
> Subject: RE: [dvd-discuss] Copyright ranges
> 
> 
> In article 
> <E06ADA0073926048AD304115DD8AB6BC01239726@mail.onetouch.com>,
> Richard Hartman <URL:mailto:hartman@onetouch.com> wrote:
> > 
> > [snip]
> > > So the output "inherits" the rights attached to the input, if 
> > > the process
> > > can be viewed as a conversion? Interesting.
> > 
> > All theory mind you, my own view of what _should_ be, not
> > necessarily what _is_.
> 
> I see. A simple rule like that would certainly make it easier 
> to determine
> what rights you hold.
> 
> > [snip]
> >
> > I do not see how the output of a search engine could
> > possibly qualify as "artistic expression".  Those programs
> > that spew out poetry and music might have an argument,
> > but a search engine?  It's like copyrighting your shopping
> > list (which is, unfortunately, possible IIRC ...)
> 
> As a few people have noted, they might mean the page style 
> etc., basically
> everything except the results.
> 
> But if I copied their results only, and served them up in a 
> style I had
> created, I'm pretty sure they would still view that as some kind of
> infringement.

I would suggest something along the lines of "theft
of services".  Stealing someone elses work and presenting 
it as your own.  After all, the search engine itself _is_ 
something they created, and they can control how it is used.

> 
> > > I am fascinated by the idea that you can publish and 
> > > copyright billions
> > > of permutations of output, just by writing a script. I have 
> > > already got
> > > a suitable script that demonstrates the stupidity of that, 
> > > but I need more
> > > information about the laws to perfect it.
> > 
> > I would be interested in seeing that script.  What have
> > you called it?  "MillionMonkeys.pl" perhaps ?
> > 
> > ;-)
> 
> That's an apt name, but this one is called "poems", since that is what
> it retrieves. I have tried to make it very similar to how 
> Google works.
> So if they really have copyright on their results, then I have too.
> 
> By requesting any of these poems, you hereby waive the right 
> to attempt
> reverse engineering the script that retrieves them. Please 
> press your nose
> against the screen here--> [I accept] before proceeding.
> 
> Here are some examples of the poems I've made, I hope you like them:
> 
> http://www.armware.dk/cgi-bin/poems/CfBG9mI2tHD.GInGyj474
> http://www.armware.dk/cgi-bin/poems/JrIwdu94jioJOIW083jj0
> http://www.armware.dk/cgi-bin/poems/BSwxV1Umfaogz2VDnrK43LD1xs6
> 
> Feel free to try other filenames... who knows, you might find 
> another of
> my poems! Just remember that they are all copyrighted. :-)
> 
> Regards,
> Thomas
> 
> -- 
> 	9876543210  Magic tab-o-meter.		http://www.armware.dk/
>          ^
>      The opinions expressed herein may not reflect official 
> RIAA policy.
> 



-- 
-Richard M. Hartman
hartman@onetouch.com

186,000 mi./sec ... not just a good idea, it's the LAW!