Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!apple!sun-barr!lll-winken!telecom-request From: whs70@taichi.bellcore.com (24460-W. H. Sohl(L145)) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Re: Supreme Court: White Pages Not Copyrightable Message-ID: Date: 5 Apr 91 21:12:45 GMT Sender: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu Reply-To: "24460-W. H. Sohl" Organization: Bellcore, Livingston, NJ Lines: 27 Approved: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 11, Issue 270, Message 7 of 14 Pat, our Moderator said: > [Moderator's Note: You say it would be 'easier and cheaper' to get the > informaiton by paying telco -- but the court ruling we are discussing > said the competitors no longer have to pay telco the first nickle. > They are free to take the information, period. Telco cannot forbid > them to rip off the information in the directory, nor can they force > them to pay for it. But, I believe, the court did not say that the telco MUST give away the directory listings in any readily available electronic form. The writer to which Pat responds had pointed out it was probably cheaper to buy the list than to "retype" or scan an existing hard copy. I tend to agree. Remember, the case on which the Supreme Court rule stemmed from the refusal of the telco to even consider selling the data. The plaintiffs then copied the data from existing directories. The plaintiffs were apparently willing (and I'd guess would have prefered) to buy an electronic list. This is my personal view and not necessarily that of my employer. Bill Sohl || email Bellcore, Morristown, NJ || UUCP bcr!taichi!whs70 (Bell Communications Research) || or 201-829-2879 Weekdays || Internet whs70@taichi.cc.bellcore.com