united-states copyright licensing public-domain data-ownership
Can I leak this database?
<p>Let's say I have access to a... <em>certain</em>... database. I want to make it accessible to the general public, since I believe it would serve the public interest.</p>

<p>The content is non-creative - numeric public knowledge facts, so it wouldn't be protected under copyright law. It also doesn't contain personal data.</p>

<p>I know that some countries in the world protect databases with specific laws. This is the case in the European Union and the UK for example, but not on the US.</p>

<p>If I currently have this data stored on a computer within the US, can I license it under the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Database_License" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Open Database License</a> and release it to the public?</p>

<p>Would it make a difference if I'm not physically located in the US, or am not a US citizen? </p>

<p>Even if there are possible legal consequences for me, would the general public be able to legally use the database?</p>

<p>First, remember that this site does not provide legal counsel. If you are actually planning on doing something, hire a lawyer for actual counsel. </p>

<p>Now, to the issue:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>The content is non-creative - numeric public knowledge facts, so it wouldn't be protected under copyright law. It also doesn't contain personal data.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>The fact that the content is non-creative sites not mean that the database itself is non-creative: designing the database itself is most probably a creative work, involving things like :</p>

<ul>
<li><p>deciding the opportunity of the creation of the database itself </p></li>
<li><p>its structure </p></li>
<li><p>which info include in the database and which not </p></li>
</ul>

<p>To put some examples of recopilación of public data protected by copyright :</p>

<ul>
<li><p>textbooks</p></li>
<li><p>maps </p></li>
<li><p>logarithmic tables! </p></li>
</ul>

<p>And four the second part, obviously disclosing the database does not change its protection, the same way that the fact that someone posts a film on YouTube does not make it public domain </p>

<p>TL;DR if it is not yours, you have no right to make this kind of decision. Discuss with an actual lawyer. </p>
