Public Information?

[Debt.tv]

I have a website that offers names, addresses and phone numbers of local restaurants. I found all this information via google and on their websites. Along with this information, I offer a link to their website and any other good information on their website, such as their menu.

I am not using any of their images or anything else like that, I just think "hey world, I did the search for local restaurants, check out what I found."

Well, one of the restaurants told me to remove the menu because I was publishing invalid information even though if it is invalid, then they need to change it on their website because I link to their menu on their website to get this information. And then she said not to do any marketing or advertising for them without their knowledge. I don't think I am marketing or advertising for any of these restaurants, I am offering a service to the citizens of my city to let them know what I found on the internet.

My Question is 'Do I have to right to post information that I found online onto my website?'

 

[RLW]

My Question is 'Do I have to right to post information that I found online onto my website?'

I'm not a legal expert, but out of curiosity, does the restaurant's website have any copyright information? I realise that you're not using their menu in a negative way, but if they explicitly say on their website that the information is copyright and cannot be reproduced without written consent etc or anything like that, then I think they may have every right to stop you using that information on your website.

Heres something else worth thinking about. If somehow information about you found it's way onto a website, would you expect to have the right to demand that the information is taken down?

If I were you, I'd take that particular restaurant's details off your site. Hopefully, you can drive some visitors to their competitors and at some point they'll regret asking you to take their information down.

 

[Debt.tv]

I'm not a legal expert, but out of curiosity, does the restaurant's website have any copyright information? I realise that you're not using their menu in a negative way, but if they explicitly say on their website that the information is copyright and cannot be reproduced without written consent etc or anything like that, then I think they may have every right to stop you using that information on your website.

Heres something else worth thinking about. If somehow information about you found it's way onto a website, would you expect to have the right to demand that the information is taken down?

If I were you, I'd take that particular restaurant's details off your site. Hopefully, you can drive some visitors to their competitors and at some point they'll regret asking you to take their information down.

I am not putting anything on the web except links to their website. The name and address and phone number that I typed in is already available on the internet via Google, Yahoo, yellow pages....etc. Their menu is NOT on my website, it is on there website, I just show people people the way via, a link called MENU.

I don't know, they have 3 restaurants, I should just remove them. I have their competition up and down the street that love the idea and are on my website. I have over 150 right now with another 25 on the way. I am just torn because if people are looking for something in particular, and it is on the internet, I should be able to help them without any problems.

Any other comments are welcome as I am on the edge here, not really knowing what to do.

thank you music place, rep'd

 

[cartoonz]

I'd rethink my patronage and review of the establishment myself.

Replace the live links to their site and type instead: "Forget this place, really bad attitude"
Then, when they complain about that.... do nothing but laugh.

 

[Debt.tv]

I'd rethink my patronage and review of the establishment myself.

Replace the live links to their site and type instead: "Forget this place, really bad attitude"
Then, when they complain about that.... do nothing but laugh.

I read online that as long as I post a "legal" page that states these restaurants or business in no way endorse or sponsor this site unless otherwise specified, then I should be ok. Now I guess there are court cases still pending weather or not people can link to certain pages of a website because they are trying to say that we are bypassing other information on the businesses website. Well see how that turns out someday.

Thank you

Rep'd!

 

[SpareDomains]

If you have a local restaurant directory that provides a free link to them and they don't want it I would remove them. Then keep working on the site and turn it into a major site with tons of restaurants. If you get the site popular enough then you could charge for featured listings etc... and just keep in mind if they come knocking on your door when the site is popular not to ever include them in the future. If your site is laid out nicely and is a positive for them and they don't want the free publicity then they probably still listen to 8 tracks and have no idea what a cd is as well. Point being why argue to help someone, if they are to too dumb to realize it pull the link. If you can get the site to rank in google for city/restaurants etc... then I think they will realize their error when you are sending targeted traffic to their competitors.

 

[verbster]

We live in weird times.

 

[Ms Domainer]

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I'd just take it down.

It's not worth the grief.

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