A more thorough explanation:

Definition: Sweatwork is a slang term used to describe a compilation of information, usually in the form of a searchable computer database, that is not eligible for copyright protection because the underlying facts are not copyrightable and the arrangement of the information is not considered unique or original.

For example, a database of all the names and addresses of people living in a particular city would not be eligible for copyright protection because the names and addresses themselves are not original or unique, and the arrangement of the information is not considered creative or original.

New forms of intellectual property laws are being developed to protect the investment of time and effort that goes into compiling databases, even if the information itself is not eligible for copyright protection.