Duplicated directory listings -- breaching copyright or not

I have a directory listings site. Another site has recently appeared which lists exactly the same companies as I do on my site. For each company they give similar details, but the details are not always identical. Is there anything I can do about this? They could have compiled all their information indepently I guess, but it is more likely they stole it from me!
Could anyone tell me what are my options please?
The website which has the copied listings appears to be run through some offshore company based in Panama, they have a domain name registered a couple of years ago, shortly after I registered mine but I know they have only just developed it into a site.
Thanks for any help you can give.

 

Moderators. due to a problem with the DP forum I accidentally submitted this thread twice. Please delete one of them. Thanks.

 

Moderators don't read every thread, so they probably won't see this. You need to click the red triangle with the ! in the middle and request to have the duplicate deleted.

 

It really depends on what is in the listings and who created it. For example, if the only thing you had was URLs and categories then there would be nothing illegal about what they have done (look up the feist publications lawsuit).

If there is an additional descriptor of the site, then you would only be able to do somethig if you created the additional text. If the text was generated by user submission, then you do not own the copyright and therefore have no standing to do anything about it.

There is copyright for databases, but only if the database is set up in a unique way. Most directories I have seen display info in much the same manner.

It sucks, but there isn't really anything you can do from a legal action perspective. You could try to threaten them and see if they give, but if they don't there isn't anything beyond the threat.

 

Druidelder, I looked up the case you mentioned. Thanks that is really useful. Guess I am pretty screwed.