Comments on: Are the definitions from a textbook glossary (consisting of common terms) protected by copyright laws? http://www.a86.co.uk/are-the-definitions-from-a-textbook-glossary-consisting-of-common-terms-protected-by-copyright-laws/ This is A86 Raw and Clear Sat, 24 Apr 2010 20:05:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Kylah Hardwick http://www.a86.co.uk/are-the-definitions-from-a-textbook-glossary-consisting-of-common-terms-protected-by-copyright-laws/comment-page-1/#comment-57 Kylah Hardwick Sat, 20 Jan 2007 20:57:47 +0000 http://www.a86.co.uk/are-the-definitions-from-a-textbook-glossary-consisting-of-common-terms-protected-by-copyright-laws/#comment-57 A glossary certainly can have copyrightable aspects including, among other things, the definitions as well as the organization of the glossary. That said, copyright does NOT protect works consisting entirely of information that is common property and containing no original authorship (e.g., standard calendars, height and weight charts, tape measures and rulers, and lists or tables taken from public documents or other common sources). Without seeing the glossary, it's impossible to say how much of it is copyrightable. Copyright analysis is a fact specific inquiry. You might consider contacting a copyright attorney if this issue is important to you. A glossary certainly can have copyrightable aspects including, among other things, the definitions as well as the organization of the glossary.

That said, copyright does NOT protect works consisting entirely of information that is common property and containing no original authorship (e.g., standard calendars, height and weight charts, tape measures and rulers, and lists or tables taken from public documents or other common sources).

Without seeing the glossary, it’s impossible to say how much of it is copyrightable. Copyright analysis is a fact specific inquiry. You might consider contacting a copyright attorney if this issue is important to you.

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