Copyright of data

[HankHeath <HankHeath@xxxxxxx>]

Here's one to keep you up nights:

A recent Supreme Court ruling in the Netherlands has determined that computer
data do not constitute "goods." The way they interpreted this was that for an
object to be a "good," it must be configured such that when you take it, you
have complete control over the object. Data can be taken (stolen), but the
taker doesn't take complete control over it unless he (she) deletes it from
the source. In other words, it is impossible to be convicted there for data
theft unless you delete the files you are stealing.

However, data that is copyrighted is protected..... 

Now since this has precedence, and can be used to help determine international
law (which is where most of the Internet laws are eventually going to end up),
I have to figure out how to copyright the data that is going to be on my Web
server to protect it from theft - well, actually, copying.

Any ideas, other than to dip into that batch of home-brew stout?

Hank Heath
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