Are link listings copyrighted

They are user submitted, can you copyright them?

[zenanthor]

If you run a link directory, can you copyright the listing? Is the submitter the copyright holder?

[engine]

Zenathor, welcome to WebmasterWorld.

You'll notice that a lot of services have a "Terms of Service." This clarifies the situation, slightly (although it can be confusing). Basically, when submitting to the site you are transferring the right for the directory to show the link.

It's always worth having a TOS on the site.

Take a look at Looksmart's TOS [aboutus.looksmart.com] as an example.

[zenanthor]

Thanks for the welcome.

perhaps I should clearify what I ment.

I just installed a PHP script indexer on my site. This script comes with a DB that auto indexes thousands of scripts.
I installed, recoded and made it into a PostNuke module. I have the blessing of the author to recode the script.
I then went for a review request at a forum (not this one). In my review request I said for fun "I can now visit Hotscript without leaving my domain". Some one took it verbaly and though I was syndicating their listings. So I notifyed the autohr of the script and DB. It turns out that the DB is based on copy pasting from Hotscripts and Scriptsearch.

The person who reacted to the script said he would report my site to Hotscript, however I have not heard a word from them.

I would like to post a link to the script Im talking about, but I dont think that is allowed, so if you see my sig there is a link to the site where the script installed as well as a link to the domain where the scripts 'home' site is.

admin & mods, Im not looking to 'steal' visitors, Im honestly asking for an advice. but please edit the post if its conflicting rules.

There is now a 'war' going on at the forums I first requested the review. Im now asking you ppl for an advice since you all seems to be group of grown ups, with good advices (pointers). I find your site on Google after searching for copyright laws, cant remember the original phrase.

Thanks for any help on this issue.

[sun818]

If you review the descriptions for PHP, Multi-Level Marketing on your site and hotscripts.com, they are exactly the same. This is from hotscript's Copyright page [hotscripts.com]:

"No portion may be copied, reproduced, displayed or redistributed in any manner without written consent or licensing from the copyright owner."

I think your question is best directed at the site operators of hotscripts, but my guess is that they would want you to take your link listings offline.

[zenanthor]

Yes, I can hardly think they would let my list their lisitngs. But hey at least they cannot sue me for taking their copyrighted content, neither force me to remove links, that is something each of the listing owners would have to do. But then again, cant say I like the though of having 2K people suing me. Neiter would I like the bad publicity. But all the script owners should be glad for their extra publicity, the main idea behind the script index is to have it freely distributed, and one major updated database, where script owners submits their listings once, and then their listing is submitted to all the DB publishers.

But I can see how the whole subject is on the edge with the law, think I will clear the DB's content. And build my own from scratch.

[zenanthor]

Removed all listings, I must admit that a tear run accros my chin... snif snif