The author discusses, based on several specific examples, the issues around copyrights in factual databases as follows:(1)Can individual information (material) such as numerical values, terms, texts, charts and pictures in a factual database be copyrightable? (2)How do rights of the original and secondary authors extend to the material in a factual database derived from an original work? (3)In what cases can the selection or systematic organization of the contents be copyrightable, in construction of a factual database? (4)Is there any copyrightability in a factual database whose organization is taken from other one? It is suggested that the principle that the copyright law shall protect not idea but expression is controversial regarding the protection of rights in databases and other practical works.
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