Can Auction Categories Be Copyrighted?

[Scott.LV]

Hello,

I'm about to start development on an auction site similar to Ebay. The Script I am running has categories already listed, but they are not as thorough as I would like.

Ebay, being the best, has a very large and thorough list of categories on their site, and I've recently printed out every one of them in hopes of using them as ideas, if not word-for-word categories on my site.

My question is: Can there be issues using their categories on my site? Can you copyright categories on an auction site?

Let me know what you guys think. Thanks in advance.

-Scott

 

[Electric-Shadow]

I think it could come under content copyright if they wanted to be really picky about it (they may or may not care), because your technically copying content displayed on their site, even if it is only their categories.

If your worried see if you can find a decent category dump for your site, which is an SQL query which creates categories, some have hundreds, such as PHPLD category dumps, it's better being safe than sorry imo.

I'm no lawyer though so dont hold me to anything lol

 

[DNQuest.com]

I don't think the catagory names would be an issue, it would be teh look and feel of the site that could cuase trouble. The exception could be if the domain name is similar to an auction site you copy. IE- confusing people.

 

[Electric-Shadow]

I agree, what I said above just depends whether or not ebay care about enforcing copyright to every last bit of content on their site.

 

[labrocca]

A list can't be copyrighted.

 

[Scott.LV]

Thanks for your thoughts guys.

To fill in some details, the site will appear as it does on the domain I have it on now- www.bid.sc. The new domain for the site is iBin.com.

-Scott