I have a question: has anyone noticed the lawsuit Nielsen recently filed against a little known company named TruckAds? TruckAds publishes DMA maps on their website and it appears they have upset Nielsen. In fact, it looks like a fascinating David and Golliath story about to unfold.
TruckAds DMA maps are very useful and I've been using them for years. What I wonder is, does Nielsen really have copyright protection?
Nielsen states on their website that a DMA consists of TV stations whose broadcast signals reach a specific area and attract the most viewers. I'm no lawyer or expert, however, it seems to me broadcast signals are factual information and facts cannot be copyrighted. You can go to the FCC website and see the signals drawn as circles instead of following county lines. There is nothing particularly creative about converting a circle to a county line, so how can Nielsen claim copyright ownership?
TruckAds DMA maps are very useful and I've been using them for years. What I wonder is, does Nielsen really have copyright protection?
Nielsen states on their website that a DMA consists of TV stations whose broadcast signals reach a specific area and attract the most viewers. I'm no lawyer or expert, however, it seems to me broadcast signals are factual information and facts cannot be copyrighted. You can go to the FCC website and see the signals drawn as circles instead of following county lines. There is nothing particularly creative about converting a circle to a county line, so how can Nielsen claim copyright ownership?
