Anonymous

I just wanted to let you know that you can access the old USCIS website at
http://149.101.23.2/graphics/index.htm for another 3 days. You may download
it using softwares such as www.httrack.com (beware, it's large, I have
downloaded over 100 Mo so far ... if you don't have high speed internet
access, forget about it) - then you would have a copy locally present on
your computer.

For the attorneys: Would it be legal to put the website back online ???? If
permission is needed, how do you think one may go about obtaining it ?

"Information presented on this WWW site is considered public information and
may be distributed or copied. Use of appropriate byline/photo/image credit
is requested. Some of the images on USCIS.gov have been licensed for use by
USCIS on a non-exclusive and non-transferable basis. All other rights to
these images, including without limitation and copyright, are retained by
the owner of the images. They are not in the public domain and should not be
used except as they appear as part of this website. If you are interested in
using one of these images, please contact the USCIS Web Unit."

From what I understand, the USCIS website is not copyrighted - some if its
images are (but not by USCIS) but even then they can be used "as they appear
as part of this website" - does it also mean as part of a mirror website ???

ian-mstm

While I'm not a lawyer, I have lectured extensively on this issue... so I can tell you that doing what you propose is directly contrary to the DMCA. While the information may be considered public, that information is not in the public domain. USCIS is indicating that you are free to use the information, but you are not free to wantonly copy it and recreate a website. How that information is arranged on the page, how it is presented, how the links are arranged... all of that is protected by copyright. You don't want the government breathing down your neck about this. And, in case you're wondering... no, your proposal does not fall into the "fair use" exception. And "for the public good" is not a defense.

Contrary to popular belief, everything on the internet is copyrighted by whoever writes it - at least, in all countries that signed the Berne Convention. True, by and large, no one is going to make a stink about it if people cut and paste info from one place to another, but make no mistake, if someone wanted to make a stink about it, they'd be well within their rights.

Ian