Legal Question in Intellectual Property in Florida

Use of government works

I am working on a website that deals with travel. I wanted to have a section of ''US State Dept. Travel Advisories''. These are avalible on the State Dept's Website. I hear and it is legal for me to just copy and paste this content into my website because it is writen by the government and thus is not covered by copyright laws.

Basically: It is legal for me to host and distribute government documents from the CDC, US ARMY and State Department on my website?

Thanks!


Asked on 10/03/03, 11:43 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys
Sheldon G. Bardach Law Offices of Sheldon G. Bardach

Re: Use of government works

I'm sorry, I can't give you a definitive answer, but I do seem to vaguely recall that the government, under the 1st Bush administration, or even under Regan's administration, did claim copyright coverage for all government documents.

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Answered on 10/05/03, 8:13 am
Daniel Press Chung & Press, P.C.

Re: Use of government works

Generally, yes, as long as they are US govt. docs, and not privately written and used by the Govt. The travel advisories are not copyrighted, but it's possible that CDC may re-publish (w/ permission) privatly written research reports, for example, that are copyrighted. Their web site should identify such copyrighted material. You should still identify the source of govt docs, and you must disclaim in your copyright notice that any copyright claim of yours does not include them.

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Answered on 10/04/03, 8:14 am


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