During the second week of February 2010 the Federal Court declared that the data contained in the Yellow Pages was not subject to copyright by Telstra, or actually Telstra’s Directory company Sensis.

The court ruling is based on the fact that Telstra could not prove that they were the “identifiable authors” of the information.

The ramifications of this ruling is that open source databases can no longer be restricted for use by anyone who wishes to employ such databases.

On the other hand databases where it can be proven that the compiled information is “In-House” and used In-House could be secured by copyright.

Needless to say Telstra is appealing the court ruling. The history of such appeals does not favour Telstra. However, regardless of any future appeal the door has been opened by the Federal Court for the use of such information as supplied in the Yellow and White Pages.