tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9725220.post2804229043847444967..comments2023-11-05T05:39:14.998-05:00Comments on Going to the Mat: ExtortionistsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01352443552682708733noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9725220.post-41902161055591725052009-01-02T14:33:00.000-05:002009-01-02T14:33:00.000-05:00Hmmm. Just wrestling with this one myself.There wa...Hmmm. Just wrestling with this one myself.<BR/><BR/>There was an ECJ ruling in 2004 that sugests that they have no database rights over the fixture list since basically there is no additional work carried out over that involved in the creation of the list (and creation does not qualify for protection). This appears to be confirmed in questions to the minister in Hansard who refers to a voluntary agreement for payment between the gambling industry and Football Dataco.<BR/><BR/>They then refer back to a 1959 copyright case against Littlewoods. Basically this means that you cannot publish the fixture list "as is".<BR/><BR/>What you definately can do is:<BR/>* Comment on a forthcoming match in a single match preview form.<BR/>* Publish results after the fact.<BR/><BR/>And what I speculate that you "should" be able to do is speculate about the results of matches over the course of the season, I would have thought even the entire list of matches, providing you do not tie it to the time and place. This is essentially public knowledge based upon the results of the previous season. I'm not a lawyer however...<BR/><BR/>Basically what Football Dataco seem to be doing is trying to target the gambling and press sectors to protect value that the league is creating and that thee sectors are piggybacking on. According to the terms of the license there should be a displayed copyright notice on any fixture list licensed from them as on the BBC site (can't see it on Sky).<BR/><BR/>Targetting bloggers is perhaps not the right way to win friends.<BR/><BR/>Hope this helps (ps there is a clarification letter from them posted at http://www.punterslounge.com/forum/f30/reply-football-data-co-1768/ <BR/>)<BR/><BR/>RichAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com