Fact

Facts are not copyrightable. Much of what makes the Internet useful is the ability to pull down timely information on a moment’s notice. Much timely information is factual: weather, sports scores, locations, directions, forecasts, departure times, maps, etc. The general prohibition against copyrighting facts, and the Feist case’s prohibition against protecting the “sweat of the brow” by copyright, will prevent copyright protection for these works. In the absence of other forms of protection, such as for factual databases, Website owners who would like to charge for essentially factual material find it difficult to do so.