A question about copyright, please.

Hello to whomever may be willing to lend me a hand with greater understanding.

My question is about copyright and publishing information on the net.

I want to write up and publish some bits of factual information about psychiatric medications. I don't really know what this type of writing is called. I suppose it would be called writing informational abstracts. I really have no idea. Anyway, my question is as follows...

That kind of information can't be copyright protected can it? I mean, I don't want some drug manufacturer to try and sue me for publishing information about the medications they produce.

Also, I don't understand how drug books such as Mosby's can claim copyright information because how original can it be to publish information such as:

Use:
Treatment of insomnia

Side effects:
Dry mouth
Loss of appetite

Route of administration:
Oral

I don't understand what it is they are putting a copyright on in these type of books. Can you help me understand?

Sincerely,
Gehanna

Hello Mac H.

Thank you very much for your reply.

You said:

However, the style, layout, etc of their books CAN be copyrighted.

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Ahh ok that I understand.

You said:

So, if you pinch the information verbatim from their site, then you are probably taking the style etc as well - you'll basically have to re-write the information in your own words. Easy.

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re-write in my own style? .. yes that is easy enough.

You said:

However, this brings up another issue - if you do not understand the subject, please DO NOT rewrite it. If you don't understand the subtleties of psychiatric medication, then writing about the subject in your own words is simply not useful to your readers.

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Amen to that!! It really annoys the you know what out of me when people write or talk about things they have no real clue about. However, be it far from me to deny any offered help under my guidance. *grin* After all, I do have well over 16 years experience working in psychiatry and with psychiatric medications.

You said:

Imagine following instructions on how to bake a cake, when the instructions clearly have been written by someone who doesn't understand cake baking. The world has enough instructions / guides / summaries which are written by people who don't understand the subjects that they are writing about.

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Now cooking is an area I don't touch! I haven't a clue about cooking. lol

Thanks again for your help!

Sincerely,
Gehanna