# How copyrights are represented in CSV **URL:** \ **Category:** data-model\ **Created:** [October 11, 2014, 1:26am UTC](https://forum.loinc.org/t/how-copyrights-are-represented-in-csv/842 "2014-10-11T01:26:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![zorglub](https://forum.loinc.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/z/74df32/32.png) [@zorglub](https://forum.loinc.org/u/zorglub)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2014, 1:26am UTC](https://forum.loinc.org/t/how-copyrights-are-represented-in-csv/842/1 "2014-10-11T01:26:38Z")
The User’s Guide is unclear about how LOINC represents copyright information. I do not see my question answered in the FAQ, or searching the forums. An earlier question in the implementor’s forum remains unanswered. There is a table of copyright information in source\_organization.csv. I expected one of the columns of loinc.csv to reference the the “COPYRIGHT\_ID” column of source\_organization.csv. Indeed the description of this column (in Table 28c on page 93 of the “LOINC Users’ Guide”) specifies that the “COPYRIGHT\_ID” column is referenced by a foreign key in the LOINC table… but it does not say which column in loinc.csv contains that foreign key. The only column in loinc.csv that (based on the name) could be a foreign key pointing to a row in source\_organization.csv is “EXTERNAL\_COPYRIGHT\_NOTICE”. However, looking at loinc.csv, “EXTERNAL\_COPYRIGHT\_NOTICE” actually contains a full, lengthy, copyright statement, not values from any source\_organization.csv “COPYRIGHT\_ID” column. Is source\_organization.csv actually unused? Or am I just overlooking some foreign key other than “EXTERNAL\_COPYRIGHT\_NOTICE”? ---
**Author:** ![jhook](https://forum.loinc.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/aca169/32.png) [@jhook](https://forum.loinc.org/u/jhook)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 1:41pm UTC](https://forum.loinc.org/t/how-copyrights-are-represented-in-csv/842/2 "2014-10-15T13:41:57Z")
The source\_organization.csv file and the SOURCE\_ORGANIZATION table in the loinc.mdb database are provided to give some basic, limited, information about some of our data sources. You have correctly pointed out that currently there is no “foreign key” identifier in the loinc.csv file or LOINC table to directly link to a record in the source\_organization.csv file or SOURCE\_ORGANIZATION Table in the loinc.mdb database. After due consideration, it has been decided to add this field to the loinc.csv file and LOINC table in the loinc.mdb database in the next release currently scheduled for December of this year. Thank you for your interest in LOINC ---
**Author:** ![zorglub](https://forum.loinc.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/z/74df32/32.png) [@zorglub](https://forum.loinc.org/u/zorglub)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 9:58pm UTC](https://forum.loinc.org/t/how-copyrights-are-represented-in-csv/842/3 "2014-12-09T21:58:40Z")
Great! Does that mean the “EXTERNAL\_COPYRIGHT\_NOTICE” column of loinc.csv will be replaced by the the foreign key, or will there be two (possibly conflicting) sources of copyright information? ---
**Author:** ![jhook](https://forum.loinc.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/aca169/32.png) [@jhook](https://forum.loinc.org/u/jhook)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2014, 2:52pm UTC](https://forum.loinc.org/t/how-copyrights-are-represented-in-csv/842/4 "2014-12-10T14:52:22Z")
As required by the LOINC terms of use, the EXTERNAL\_COPYRIGHT\_NOTICE field will still be included in the table. The link to the SOURCE\_ORGANIZATION record will be through a new field named LOINC.EXTERNAL\_COPYRIGHT\_LINK. This field will be a foreign key reference to the SOURCE\_ORGANIZATION.COPYRIGHT\_ID field. We realize that this does result in some duplication, but having the LOINC.EXTERNAL\_COPYRIGHT\_NOTICE field in the table is required. You should also be aware that the value of the LOINC. EXTERNAL\_COPYRIGHT\_NOTICE field is generated and maintained by an internal process and will not necessarily match the value of the SOURCE\_ORGANIZATION. COPYRIGHT field. You can find information about using the LOINC.EXTERNAL\_COPYRIGHT\_NOTICE field in the LOINC terms of use at [http://loinc.org/terms-of-use](http://loinc.org/terms-of-use) ---
**Author:** ![zorglub](https://forum.loinc.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/z/74df32/32.png) [@zorglub](https://forum.loinc.org/u/zorglub)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2014, 7:09pm UTC](https://forum.loinc.org/t/how-copyrights-are-represented-in-csv/842/5 "2014-12-10T19:09:29Z")
Thank you. You’ve clarified this a lot, and I’m still a bit confused about what to do when both LOINC.EXTERNAL\_COPYRIGHT\_NOTICE and LOINC.EXTERNAL\_COPYRIGHT\_LINK are populated. It sounds like EXTERNAL\_COPYRIGHT\_NOTICE is the only legally binding copyright information, and EXTERNAL\_COPYRIGHT\_LINK provides potentially useful additional information that should be ignored in the event of a conflict. Is that correct? ---
**Author:** ![jhook](https://forum.loinc.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/aca169/32.png) [@jhook](https://forum.loinc.org/u/jhook)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2014, 1:05pm UTC](https://forum.loinc.org/t/how-copyrights-are-represented-in-csv/842/6 "2014-12-11T13:05:22Z")
The LOINC “Terms of Use” is the official legal document that explains where and when you need to include the copyright information. As far as legal documents go, it is fairly easy to read and user friendly. It contains several explicit mentions of where and when you need to use the EXTERNAL\_COPYRIGHT\_NOTICE field. You can find the terms of use at [http://loinc.org/terms-of-use](http://loinc.org/terms-of-use). ---
**Author:** ![zorglub](https://forum.loinc.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/z/74df32/32.png) [@zorglub](https://forum.loinc.org/u/zorglub)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2014, 4:53pm UTC](https://forum.loinc.org/t/how-copyrights-are-represented-in-csv/842/7 "2014-12-11T16:53:45Z")
Yes, as near as I can tell from the current terms of use, the EXTERNAL\_COPYRIGHT\_LINK (indeed, the entire SOURCE\_ORGANIZATION table) can be ignored entirely. Perhaps some day the terms of use will be updated to explain when the EXTERNAL\_COPYRIGHT\_LINK is meaningful. In the mean time, I’ll disregard the SOURCE\_ORGANIZATION table and any references to it. Thank you for your help. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://forum.loinc.org/uploads/default/original/1X/dbab97ce9b2987d788a376e254fcaae249f3b672.png) [@system](https://forum.loinc.org/u/system)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2023, 3:36pm UTC](https://forum.loinc.org/t/how-copyrights-are-represented-in-csv/842/8 "2023-06-23T15:36:32Z")