Legal Question in Business Law in Florida

Copyright Question

I am trying to compile some specialized lists of business Names, addresses, and phone numbers for resale on CD ROM. I have tried every source I can come up with and every source seems to have the same restrictions on copyright. Even the public libraries get the information I am looking for from company CD ROM's containing millions of business addresses that are all copyrighted. I can pull the text files that I require from any number of sources. The files are simply the name, address, and phone numbers. My question is,is it really illegal to use the names, addresses, and phone numbers from there findings, without using the rest of their software? Or is that a generic warning meant to keep a small business from competing with them. How is it possible to copyright information such as names, addresses, and phone numbers that ultimately all come from basically the same sources such as public records and phone directories? Thank you very much for your cooperation.


Asked on 11/16/98, 3:19 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Alexander M. Rosenfeld Rosenfeld & Stein, P.A.

Re: Copyright Question

Copyright law is a highly specialized area of law. To get an accurate answer, I suggest you retain or consult with an attorney in that area. As far as I know, mere names, addresses and phone numbers are not protected. The usage of that information may be.

Alexander M. Rosenfeld

Rosenfeld & Stein, P.A.

18260 NE 19 Ave


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Answered on 1/12/99, 2:13 pm


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