Database publishers have often had a difficult time protecting their database against unscrupulous people who come along and copy it, place their own name on it and make money off it.  The courts have often been reluctant to protect databases as copyrighted works and, in the rare instance where they do, the courts usually afford them such thin protection as to allow just about any copying so long as it does not result in an identical copy.  As a result, database owners have been somewhat reluctant to attempt to enforce what rights they may have in their database in the courts.

But every so often a database publisher comes along who feels they have a good enough case to justify the risk of bringing their case before the court.  SaleTraq is just such a publisher.

SalesTraq compiles, arranges and owns a database of about 17,000 different models of residential properties in the Las Vegas area.  The database contains not only the usual information one might find in a database of residential properties (such as floor plans, measurements, features and location), but also includes the properties’ key attributes as determined by SalesTraq.  SalesTraq distributes the database to its customers through a fee-based subscription that is accessible through the SalesTraq website, and by providing the database on CD-ROM or DVD to its subscribers on a monthly basis. More...