[FYI] (Fwd) Copyright "Violations" Shut down Medical Information Sit

["Axel H Horns" <horns@ipjur.com>]

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Date sent:      	Fri, 25 Aug 2000 16:12:02 -0400
Send reply to:  	Law & Policy of Computer Communications
             	<CYBERIA-L@LISTSERV.AOL.COM>
From:           	Peter Wayner <pcw2@FLYZONE.COM>
Subject:        	Copyright "Violations" Shut down Medical Information Site
To:             	CYBERIA-L@LISTSERV.AOL.COM

The WSJ today has a front page story on how the AMA's copyright on
medical treatment codes. 99201, for instance, means a limited visit
for a first time patient. The AMA claims a copyright on the creative
act of writing down these codes and they charge dearly for the right
to use them. The WSJ describes how one website that offered to tell
patients how much a procedure might cost was shut down by the
copyright. They were told it would cost $10 per registered user to
license the system. The site, which didn't even force users to
register, just balked and quit unwilling to fight the AMA.

Wow! And this was accomplished before the WIPO database treaty.

-Peter
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