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The notion of "ownership" of public records is a bit tenuous to begin with. You can own the paper (except they obviously don't, and you can make a copy on your
by fiatmoney 12y ago
The notion of "ownership" of public records is a bit tenuous to begin with. You can own the paper (except they obviously don't, and you can make a copy on your own paper), or you can own a copyright on particular documents (except that US government documents, including municipalities, are public domain).
Really they're asserting some quasi-classification right to prevent a record's release because they "deputized" the author, but it's pretty unclear under what actual statutory authority they're operating.
- Spooky23 12y agoIn most cases, state and municipal works are copyright protected, unless they specifically waive their rights. I believe that California does, for example. Most states do have freedom of information laws for access to records, but there are broad exemptions for law enforcement and other public safety purposes.
- rosser 12y ago17 U.S.C. § 105 only bars the Federal government from holding copyrights on works it created. Case law, however, holds that states and local governments may retain copyright.
- snarfy 12y agoSo what. Release it. I'll take a copyright violation.
- grecy 12y agoGiven we're talking about the (ab)use of this stingray surveillance device, who's (assumed) widespread use the feds don't want the average citizen to know about, I suggest they would come down on you with enormous damages for that copyright violation.
- rosser 12y agoYou seem to think I disagree with you. I'm just correcting misinformation.
- Shivetya 12y agoI guess if pushed hard enough they will just criminalize the information or such, in other words they will hold it as it cannot have rights to be violated. If all else fails, national security it?