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  #1  
Old February 27, 2008, 09:38 PM
Unregistered
 
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Default Public domain info from US govt --

Can I get info from (for instance) the US govt like from Pueblo, CO -- can I SELL that info (even though it's free)?

Analogy: Can I get public domain photo of the moon from NASA, then SELL copies of it?

What are the laws/rules on this?

Thanks.
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  #2  
Old February 27, 2008, 10:37 PM
Phil
 
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Default Re: Public domain info from US govt --

Yes, yes and maybe...

Almost everything you need to know...

Do your Homework well...
http://www.google.com/Top/Society/La...ty/Copyrights/

Those webcams showing last weeks...
http://news.google.com/news?oe=utf-8...=Search+New s

And Amazing Photos...

Made a few Smart marketers some Great Cash...

If you can Think of Stuff that people really Want that's Unavailable to them for whatever reason...

Yes they'll pay you if you can Deliver that Hard to Find webcam/information into their inbox...

Just a little Food for Thought on Public domain...

Phil

Last edited by Phil : February 27, 2008 at 10:41 PM. Reason: additional info
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  #3  
Old February 27, 2008, 10:39 PM
Pete Egeler
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Public domain info from US govt --

As long is the material is from a Government Agency, for the most part it can be used. BE SURE you have something from the Gov., and not a sub-contractor.

If you see a copyright notice, or a non-government name listed on the product as the producer/owner, you will NOT be able to use it.

MOST of the stuff from Pueblo is produced by the various government agencies, but as you dig deeper into a particular area, you'll find a lot of non-government products. Example: You could use a product produced by the FDA, but if you find information provided by Kraft, or a University, etc., you could not.

Pete
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  #4  
Old February 29, 2008, 12:20 AM
-TW
 
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Default Re: Public domain info from US govt --

Pete...

When you say it's ok to use -- the 'use' I'm asking about is can I (re)SELL that stuff (guv-mint produced content) -- even though it's available from the gov for FREE?

That's my question.

When you say it's ok to use, do you mean it's ok to SELL?

Let me know.

Thanks.

-- TW
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  #5  
Old February 29, 2008, 05:10 AM
Pete Egeler
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Public domain info from US govt --

Yes.. BUT.. You should rewrite it. People that fail to do any rewrite on PD materials soon find the well runs dry. Unless of course it's a very "Hot" old discourse by some famous author.

In the case of a photo, you might want to use it as a "freebie" in order to get a list built, etc.

Pete
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  #6  
Old February 29, 2008, 07:03 AM
Phil
 
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Default Re: Public domain info from US govt --

On that note...

The following might give some a few Good Public Domain ideas...

Simple Writing Projects From the Public Domain
http://ezinearticles.com/?Simple-Wri...main&id=768566

Phil
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  #7  
Old February 29, 2008, 12:40 PM
Scott S.
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Public domain info from US govt --

Phil,
Thanks for sharing that excellent resource.

Scott S.
http://www.urldecoy.com
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  #8  
Old March 9, 2008, 08:28 AM
-TW
 
Posts: n/a
Default That doesn't makes sense -- or did I read that wrong?...

Are you saying if it's public domain from the guv-mint (or from anywhere) I still have to CHANGE/MODIFY it before selling it? Isn't that the whole point of public domain, that I DON'T have to change it before I can sell it?

If it's public domain, I can 'steal' it exactly as is, yes?

But my original question was, can I steal it and SELL it (too)?

-- TW
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  #9  
Old March 9, 2008, 11:46 PM
Dien Rice Dien Rice is offline
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,357
Default Copyright and US Federal Government-produced works

Quote:
Originally Posted by -TW View Post
Are you saying if it's public domain from the guv-mint (or from anywhere) I still have to CHANGE/MODIFY it before selling it? Isn't that the whole point of public domain, that I DON'T have to change it before I can sell it?

If it's public domain, I can 'steal' it exactly as is, yes?

But my original question was, can I steal it and SELL it (too)?
Hi TW,

In general, material produced by the US Federal Government is not copyrighted, but is in the public domain...

Here's some more explicit info...

http://www.cendi.gov/publications/04...right.html#312

I quote (from that page)...

Quote:
3.1.2 Is a U.S. Government work provided copyright protection?

In the United States, U.S. Government works are covered by 17 USC § 105.59 "Copyright protection … is not available for any work of the United States Government, but the United States is not precluded from receiving and holding copyrights transferred to it by assignment, bequest, or otherwise." Exceptions are available for certain works of the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) and the U.S. Postal Service. Copyright protection may be available for U.S. Government works outside the United States (see FAQ Section 3.1.6). When a copyrighted work is transferred to the U.S. Government, the Government becomes the copyright owner and the work retains its copyright protection.

So, in general, works created by the US Federal Government is not copyrighted. However, sometimes work can be produced for the Federal Government by a private business under contract - in those circumstances, the business may retain copyright. In such instances, usually (from what I've seen) the copyright is clearly displayed.

If something is in the public domain, yes, you can take it and do what you like with it... That means you don't have to rewrite it. However, anyone else can do the same thing too (of course)...

Some people do like to rewrite it a little, so that they can then add their own copyright to the modified work. Or they may like to write an introduction, a conclusion, or add comments, so they can add their own copyright to these new parts of the work. That just gives them a little extra "protection" from being copied themselves... (Think of the "toll position"!)

I hope that helps...

Note that this is not legal advice - for legal advice, please see a legal advisor...

Best wishes,

Dien
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