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How does MaxMind prevent someone from releasing an open source version of their database? If you are about to answer "Copyright", remember - you can't Copyright
by grizzles 6y ago
How does MaxMind prevent someone from releasing an open source version of their database? If you are about to answer "Copyright", remember - you can't Copyright facts. This has been upheld in the Courts system many times.
- itsjloh 6y agoMaxMind have two versions of their database, the free to use version called GeoLite and the paid version (whos name I'm not aware of). I realise this doesn't directly answer your question but I guess one reason might be that they already provide a free version so releasing the paid version would just get you in strife?
- deleted 6y ago[deleted]
- mike_d 6y agoFacts cannot be copyrighted, but a unique compilation of facts can be. This became settled law many decades ago with sports almanacs. Furthermore, Maxmind adds non-factual entries to the database so they can identify it uniquely as their work. Map makers do something similar: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trap_street https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trap_street
- renewiltord 6y agoYou can just stick this in a license agreement, surely.
- Mindwipe 6y agoMaxmind's database is updated very regularly and includes a lot of things like risk scoring. Those are absolutely protected.
- redis_mlc 6y ago> If you are about to answer "Copyright", remember - you can't Copyright facts. Nope, US law was changed over a decade ago.