Copyright Notification in Dialog Records
Frequently Asked Questions

Why is there copyright notification in every record?

Output from a DIALOG search is intellectual property owned by the information provider and is protected by copyright law. Since Dialog licenses the information it provides, it has a legal obligation to customers and database providers to assure that ownership is clearly indicated on all records transmitted electronically or in hard copy. Although some data elements are facts, and may not be entitled to copyright protection (e.g., title and date), the information provider can claim ownership of these elements in a contract.

Traditionally, copyright notification was provided in the file banner that usually accompanied printed output. Today, electronic redistribution of data is so common that copyrighted information is often transmitted without a clear indication of the copyright owner. Showing the copyright notice in each record clarifies ownership of the data. For online searchers, it also facilitates turning off lengthy banner displays during a search session.

Users are encouraged to contact their own corporate counsel for further information about copyright law.

Are there any formats that do not contain copyright notices?

Yes. Format 1, DIALOG accession number only, does not include copyright notices since it is merely a display of the record's identifying number and contains no other information. Formats 10, 20, 30, and 40 (used to generate address labels in directory files) also omit the copyright notice because of the way they are used.

What is a "format only" copyright?

Databases licensed from the United States government (e.g., Federal Acquisition Regulations and U.S. Copyrights) are usually not copyrighted in the United States. Since Dialog formats the appearance of the output retrieved by the user, it is entitled to retain copyright on the formatted output.

Why do some records have two copyrights?

In some databases, the original publisher or author has retained the copyright. In such cases, the copyright notice at the top of the record identifies the owner of the database, i.e., the database producer. A second copyright, usually at the end of the record, identifies the copyright owner of the actual record/document content.

Is it okay for the user to move the copyright notice elsewhere in the record or to change the font size when the record is redistributed electronically or in hard copy?

Yes. As long as the copyright notice remains somewhat prominently associated with the record, its position or font size is unimportant. The important point is that the recipient is made aware of the copyright owner of the original document.

Is it okay to remove the copyright notice from individual records and just show it once, if the same copyright applies to a group of records?

This is definitely not recommended! Should any of the records in the group be redistributed, whether accidentally or deliberately, it is critical that copyright ownership be clearly indicated on all records.

Can I make multiple copies (electronic or hard copy) of the records I retrieve?

Yes, but you do need to be aware that the copyright owner is entitled to a royalty fee for use of the data. The DIALOG ERA™ service is designed to facilitate payment of the royalties on records being redistributed. You can also contact the copyright owner, usually the database producer, directly and request permission to copy the data.

How can I turn off copyright notification in record output or in the tables generated by REPORT?

In order to comply with the legal aspects of copyright, Dialog does not provide an option for turning off copyright notification. When using the REPORT command, it is possible to use SET V0, which limits the appearance of the copyright notice to the beginning of the tabular display.

When displaying User-Defined Formats (UDFs), will the copyright notice display even if none of the fields are present? Am I charged for such a record?

Yes, the copyright notice will display for each record requested even if the requested fields are absent. In files with presence checking, there is no charge for such records. In files without presence checking, the user will be charged for Format 6, for each record, usually free.

Why doesn't SET BANNERS OFF turn off banners in single files? If you provide banners for single files, why can't I turn off the copyright message?

SET BANNERS OFF is designed specifically turn off the banner display in OneSearch^®. This is particularly critical when the user requests numerous files, such as PAPERS, because it avoids a display that can go on for multiple screens. Copyright notification has been implemented in all files, independent of the number of files being searched concurrently.

What is the effect on NOHEADER output of the copyright notices?

The purpose of NOHEADER is to remove the online record header (e.g., 1/3/1) that precedes the next item to be displayed, for cleaner-looking output. NOHEADER is also used to display single fields in a table-like form. However, with the addition of the copyright notice to NOHEADER output, two lines of copyright information are now added and blank lines separate each record. These changes prevent the table-like output; copyright notification and blank lines cannot be turned off.