Datebase Right
With increasing amounts of information stored on computer systems using databases, protection has become increasingly important and a new free-standing Database Right came into force in 1998, as included in the Copyright and Rights in Databases Regulation 1997. Database Right prevents the unauthorised extraction and re-utilisation of the whole or part of the contents of the database.
The collection of data into a database may be protected by Copyright and/or Database Right. If Copyright is used to protect it, the database must have a novel arrangement or selection of contents. For Database Right to be applicable the database must be created through substantial investment of time, money and effort.
Database Right does not require registration. It commences when the material to be protected is in a recorded form (both paper and electronic databases may be protected). Database Right lasts for 15 years from creation or, if published within this time, 15 years from the publication date.
In some circumstances, as with copyright, there may be exceptions to Database Right for the purposes of research or private study. Research for commercial purposes, without the permission of the Database Right holder, is not allowed.