On Tue, Oct 4, 2011 at 2:09 PM, Ryan Kaldari <rkald...@wikimedia.org> wrote: > On 10/4/11 8:16 AM, Anthony wrote: >> If WMF wants to copy *the text* of the scrolls, I don't think anyone >> is going to have a problem with that. The copyright notice claims >> copyright "in the digital images of the manuscripts", not in the text. > > Well, there doesn't appear to be any basis for a copyright claim on the > images of the scrolls themselves, as neither Israeli law nor American > law recognizes "sweat of the brow".
Anyone have any info on the applicability of Alfred Bell & Co. v. Catalda Fine Arts, Inc? It may not be "sweat of the brow", but it sets the "originality" threshold awfully low: "A copyist's bad eyesight or defective musculature, or a shock caused by a clap of thunder, may yield sufficiently distinguishable variations. n24 Having hit upon such a variation unintentionally, the 'author' may adopt it as his and copyright it." http://www.coolcopyright.com/cases/fulltext/bellcataldatext.htm http://www.coolcopyright.com/cases/chp2/bellcatalda.htm > The only valid claim would be on reconstructions of the text. Is this your professional legal opinion, then? _______________________________________________ foundation-l mailing list foundation-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l