Are facts protected by copyright?

No, facts are not protected by copyright. Copyright law is focused on protecting original works of authorship, such as books, music, movies, and art. Facts cannot be copyrighted because they are not considered to be an original and creative work. For example, facts about a particular place, person or event cannot be copyrighted. In Nebraska, the state law recognizes the same principle as the federal copyright law. According to the Nebraska Copyright Act, copyright protection does not extend to any “factual compilation,” which is defined as a work based on the selection, coordination or arrangement of facts. So facts are not protected under copyright law. That being said, facts may be protected in other ways. For example, a newspaper or website may own the exclusive right to publish certain facts. Or if someone gathers facts and puts them together in an original way that is creative, they may be able to get a copyright for the compilation of facts. In conclusion, facts are not protected under copyright law. Copyright law protects original works of authorship, but not facts. Even though facts may be protected in other ways, they are not protected by copyright law in Nebraska.

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