I am new to this list and I notice that many messages end with the following statement:
"Information given in this posting is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk"
I am puzzled by this. I can understand it if the message included the copy from a census entry or a BMD record but the information contained within the copy is not and cannot be copyrighted. The information contained within a census entry or BMD record, such as where a person lived, how old they were, even their name, are facts. Facts cannot be copyrighted, the only thing that can be copyrighted is the manner in which the facts are displayed and how they are collated - hence the reason that copies of the actual entry are copyright.
Is there some other reason for the statement?
"Information given in this posting is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk"
I am puzzled by this. I can understand it if the message included the copy from a census entry or a BMD record but the information contained within the copy is not and cannot be copyrighted. The information contained within a census entry or BMD record, such as where a person lived, how old they were, even their name, are facts. Facts cannot be copyrighted, the only thing that can be copyrighted is the manner in which the facts are displayed and how they are collated - hence the reason that copies of the actual entry are copyright.
Is there some other reason for the statement?
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