Database protection bill gains momentum
The House of Representatives intellectual-property subcommittee voted 11-4 to provide a legal umbrella for publishers of factual information, such as courtroom decisions and professional directories, similar to the copyright laws that protect music, novels and other creative works.
Database providers have pushed for such protection for years, saying they have few legal tools to protect themselves from rivals who copy and resell information that they have painstakingly assembled.
Business, consumer and library groups have blocked passage in previous sessions of Congress, saying database publishers can protect themselves through existing laws and terms-of-service agreements.
Lawmakers drafted a more narrowly focused version this year, and the subcommittee amended it further so research activities at colleges and universities would not be affected.
But opponents at the subcommittee meeting said they still saw no reason for it to become law.
"This is the classic solution in search of a problem," said Virginia Democratic Rep. Rick Boucher.
"When all is said and done, this is an effort to create a property right in an area that cannot be copywritten," said California Democratic Rep. Zoe Lofgren.
Bill proponent Rep. Howard Berman, a California Democrat, wondered if perhaps they had weakened it too much.
"All that hard work has appeared to reduce support for this ball, rather than reduce its opposition," Berman said.
No similar bill has yet been introduced in the Senate.
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