Using DMOZ Category Names and Structure

I am starting a large directory and would like to use category names and structure that is very close to DMOZ. To avoid copyright issues, do I need to change the category names up a bit?

For those here that run large directories, how did you first seed your directory with all its categories? Since a large directory can have thousands of categories, trying to think of them all would be impossible, let alone typing them all in…

 

Here is what I do.

I first looked at similar directories for ideas. I then manually created a basic list of categories. As users submit a link to a category, I check to see if I have enough similar links to place them into a subcategory themselves. If so, I create a new subcategory, and place links there.

I just didn't feel right copying someone elses directory. I just kind of like being unique I guess, and I think the extra work is worth it.

 

You need to be very careful over copyright issues since were you to copy anyone else's structure and text then at some stage you could spend more time doing exactly that - typing and correcting everything by hand.

Besides which a directory with empty categories is worse than useless.

 

I don't see how you could have a problem when they allow people to copy their whole database.

 

Note - The ODP allows the coping of the whole database as long as the data user is following the License Agreement which requires attributing the copied work to the ODP.