Is it legal to list companies on your website without their permission?
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Is it legal to list companies on your website without their permission?
It is a directory style website
Asked on November 19, 2010 under Business Law, California
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 13 years ago | Contributor
Yes, it is legal to create compilations or directories, including on a website. A few things to be careful of:
1) Do not use any of their text or copy, or any trademarks or images belonging to them--they could all be protected intellectual property, such as copyrighted or trademarked material.
2) Do not use non-publically available information, as if you get hold of something not publically available, you might find that you ended up using confidential information.
3) Be careful of what you and imply, so as to avoid any possibility of a defamation lawsuit. (Defamation is the public making of false factual assertions that tends to damage the reputation or cause others to not want to do business with the defamed party.)
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