Are facts protected by copyright?

Copyright law in Virginia generally protects the original works of authorship that are fixed in tangible form. This includes literary works, musical works, artworks, and software. Under copyright law, facts cannot be copyrighted. This means that no one can own facts or prevent others from using them. However, if someone has taken the time and effort to compile facts, organize them in a unique way, or create a database containing them, the resulting original work may be entitled to copyright protection. For example, a person who compiles the population figures of all the cities in Virginia into a chart or database that they created would have a copyright in the chart or database, but not in the facts themselves. Copyright law generally does not protect facts, ideas, processes, methods of operation, or systems, but may protect the way these things have been expressed.

Related FAQs

How do I license my copyrighted work?
Can photographs be copyrighted?
What happens if I violate copyright law?
How can I copyright a website?
Can I copyright a game I created?
What is copyright registration and how do I do it?
How can I protect my copyright?
What is an exclusive license?
What is the copyright fair-use doctrine?
Can I use a song under copyright for a video I make?

Are facts protected by copyright?

Related FAQs

Related Blog Posts