Are databases intellectual property?

What type of intellectual property is database?

In addition to limited copyright protection, a database may also qualify for a relatively new right called the Database Right. Introduced in 1996, this is a sui generis form of intellectual property protection developed exclusively to protect databases.

Are databases protected?

Databases can be a valuable commercial asset and generally time and money is invested in their creation and maintenance. The law protects this investment in two ways: under the law of copyright and the specific rules that apply in relation to databases; and/or.

Is database copyrighted?

Databases are generally protected by copyright law as compilations. Under the Copyright Act, a compilation is defined as a "collection and assembling of preexisting materials or of data that are selected in such a way that the resulting work as a whole constitutes an original work of authorship." 17. U.S.C. § 101.

Are databases patentable?

Nor can you patent a collection of data. The contents stored in your database is not patentable. If you have created unique code in the database, it is remotely possible that you can patent the code, but not the entire database.