Is Dmoz directory structure has copy right over it?

tech_biz · 10-19-2006, 12:37 PM

Hi,
I want to know whether I can use Dmoz structure in my directory???

-MGS- · 10-19-2006, 12:44 PM

Hi,

Yes it does. The links within do not but the structure of the directory does

-Dan

jg_v7n · 10-19-2006, 07:25 PM

Really? I'm not sure that its legally possible - the directory structure is a organized set of categories, with names as titles that are common everyday words. You can no more copyright "Science and Technology > Computing > The Internet" as you can the words that describe the categories.

Anyone got a link describing their copyright?

Their "about" pages are vague to say the least: "You acknowledge and agree that the content on the ODP and its design, structure, and compilation are protected by copyrights, trademarks, service marks, patents, trade secrets, or other proprietary rights and laws."

PaulX · 10-19-2006, 09:26 PM

> Is Dmoz directory structure has copy right over it?
DMOZ claims copyright on the directory as a whole including its structure. Ofcourse it can not claim copyright on single words but it can on the compilation of these single words into an arranged order.

> I want to know whether I can use Dmoz structure in my directory???
Yes, you can. But you must follow the license rules.

> Anyone got a link describing their copyright?
See http://dmoz.org/license.html

Carter · 10-19-2006, 10:14 PM

How do they copyright something like that? Isn't it just a group of categories? I can understand the template, and the links etc - but the categories??? Is that the same gor google's directory etc?

vistadivine.com · 10-20-2006, 01:56 AM

Ya I am too shocked to know that.

Akash

PaulX · 10-20-2006, 02:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carter

How do they copyright something like that? Isn't it just a group of categories? I can understand the template, and the links etc - but the categories???

As far as I understand it (but my knowlegde about law is minimal) it is not the single category names that are copyrighted (how could you copyright a word used by everybody) but the way in which these words are combined into a complete directory structure.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carter

Is that the same gor google's directory etc?

Google is one of those using the DMOZ directory and as such they must follow the DMOZ license agreement. Just look at the bottom of http://www.google.com/dirhp , that green box is all you have to put on your directory pages.

vistadivine.com · 10-20-2006, 02:56 AM

Well it means that they can sue us for not doing this, thats shocking!

Akash

jg_v7n · 10-20-2006, 05:17 AM

I'm pretty sure that this is nonsense, if someone was using the same organization of categories they would have no legal right to prevent you.

Its like saying I copyright the colours of the rainbow because I have Rainbow as a top level category and the colours in order as subcategories.

Nonsense, unless of course they have a special way of doing it like listing the colours backwards.

Anyway this is DMOZ, so by the time they get around to suing you you'll be long gone anyway, so I shouldn't worry too much...

PaulX · 10-20-2006, 05:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jg_v7n

Its like saying I copyright the colours of the rainbow because I have Rainbow as a top level category and the colours in order as subcategories.

As I said it is not about copyright of the single categorynames (colours) at all. It is about the combination of all names in a specific order.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jg_v7n

Anyway this is DMOZ, so by the time they get around to suing you you'll be long gone anyway, so I shouldn't worry too much...

It is your choice to do so. And it is your choice to take the chance of meeting AOL in court.

jg_v7n · 10-20-2006, 06:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulX

As I said it is not about copyright of the single categorynames (colours) at all. It is about the combination of all names in a specific order.

Thats what I'm responding to though. You can't copyright the combination of colours in the specific order of the rainbow.

"Rainbow > Red, Yellow, Orange, Green, Blue" or whatever it is, isn't a combination of words that you can copyright. If DMOZ use this categorization then I can use it also. They cannot copyright the words, the colours, or the combination, its nonsense.

They may as well say, while we don't have copyright over the number 1 to 10 we do have copyright over the numbers 1 to 10 in the specific order lowest to highest.

vistadivine.com · 10-20-2006, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jg_v7n

I'm pretty sure that this is nonsense, if someone was using the same organization of categories they would have no legal right to prevent you.

Its like saying I copyright the colours of the rainbow because I have Rainbow as a top level category and the colours in order as subcategories.

Nonsense, unless of course they have a special way of doing it like listing the colours backwards.

Anyway this is DMOZ, so by the time they get around to suing you you'll be long gone anyway, so I shouldn't worry too much...

You are funny but you have gotta great point...lets see what others say.

Akash

euro · 11-17-2006, 07:18 PM

One problem though could be with google and duplicate content? maybe....

vistadivine.com · 11-18-2006, 01:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by euro

One problem though could be with google and duplicate content? maybe....

What duplicate content?