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<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 11/28/2012 8:10 PM, Jeff Meyer
wrote:<br>
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<blockquote
cite="mid:CAA1fFezphMEDV9HGvuoVPp+isvLOsiyHHBmwAGC=9m3Ls3_oKw@mail.gmail.com"
type="cite">Does anyone have any success stories of asking
localities to open up previously copyrighted data? I'm going down
the "just ask nicely for *really* open data" path here in Seattle,
but have yet to hear back from the authorities. It seems that
having a list of other cities that have opened up and shared data
would be a good reference tool when going to ask for looser
restrictions. - Jeff
<div class="gmail_extra">
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-- <br>
<font size="1">Jeff Meyer<br>
Global World History Atlas<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://www.gwhat.org"
target="_blank">www.gwhat.org</a><br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:jeff@gwhat.org"
target="_blank">jeff@gwhat.org</a><br>
206-676-2347<br>
</font><br>
<br>
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</blockquote>
I have an unfriendly success story for opening up access to data and
removing any copyright assertions. Florida has strong open records
laws. Several years ago, a few property appraisers in FL were still
both charging outrageous fees for data (like $20k for a parcel
shapefile) and asserting copyright over the data. A small company in
Orlando filed suit against the Collier County Property Appraiser and
won. <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microdecisions,_Inc._v._Skinner">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microdecisions,_Inc._v._Skinner</a><br>
<br>
After that case, the other appraisers who were not following state
law fell in line with the law. They can still charge a "reasonable
fee", but they cannot assert any copyright or license over the data.<br>
<br>
As I understand it, when dealing with local governments, state law
takes precedence. It appears that Washington State has liberal open
records laws - after reading through this:
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.waurisa.org/conferences/2012/presentations/09%20Josh%20Greenberg%20Governments%20role%20in%20sharing%20spatial%20information.pdf">http://www.waurisa.org/conferences/2012/presentations/09%20Josh%20Greenberg%20Governments%20role%20in%20sharing%20spatial%20information.pdf</a><br>
<br>
I saw on King County's GIS Data website they provide data for free
download but throw some legalese in front of it asserting some kind
of limited license, they own copyright, they can take away the
license, etc. I'm not a lawyer, but my hunch is the "license
agreement" is invalid, because state law takes precedence. <br>
<br>
Brian<br>
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