| Scientific research is reliant upon databases of ever-increasing size and sophistication. It is vital for any business which exploits such databases - whether as an owner or as a licensee - to understand the way in which the law protects them. In Europe, companies creating databases can benefit from a special form of protection called 'database right' (sometimes called 'sui generis right'). This right is distinct from, and additional to, any copyright or other intellectual property right which may subsist in the database and its contents. Its focus is on protecting investment in databases. Database right is not available to companies based in countries outside Europe and which have not agreed to reciprocal protection for databases. The US is an important example of a country where database right is currently not available. |
