[mythtv-users] IMDB Screen Scrap... legal?

[Stuart Morgan]

On Fri 8 July 2005 21:56, Nick wrote:
> IANAL - I don't think that scraping would be covered under that ruling
> due to the definition of a 'collection of facts'. I agree that if a
> site states that certain uses of its data are forbidden then it should
> be respected, especially as the data concerned is the property of the
> site. It is however quite hard to regulate access to a busy site if
> data is coming from a 'normal' request and being used
> non-commercially. This seems to be a situation similar to the
> gathering of TV listings e.g Tribune, and whereby a pay service would
> allow the content to be licensed for a particular use.

It comes down to a moral, if not legal issue. You can look for and probably 
find loopholes in their request, but it goes against the spirit if not the 
letter of the terms to do so.

If Isaac asked that others not 'scrape' information from mythtv.org then we 
would honour his request and all stand up to defend his rights. Just because 
we don't know the people behind imdb.com doesn't make it right to use their 
content without permission.

Someone, preferably a developer should just email and obtain written 
permission. You won't get if you don't ask but we should be prepared to 
recieve (and respect) a negative response. 
-- 
Stuart Morgan