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I think I wasn't very clear on one issue: we're talking about a
bill, not a policy statement or action. This could become law
enacted by the parliament.<br>
<br>
- Svavar Kjarrval<br>
<br>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 12/01/13 01:21, Svavar Kjarrval
wrote:<br>
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<blockquote cite="mid:50F0BA80.7050902@kjarrval.is" type="cite">
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Hi.<br>
<br>
I got a tip that the Ministry of Education in Iceland is drafting
a bill regarding placenames. In the draft's comment section they
specifically mentioned OpenStreetMap as an example of a
distributor of geodata (along with Samsýn and Google Maps). They
plan to propose the bill soon. The public review period expired at
the day's end of January 10th but I might be able to squeeze in
some comments in if I send them before Monday next.<br>
<br>
One of the reasons the bill will be proposed is because they are
afraid that cultural heritage is lost since popular geodata
distributors don't display (rare) placenames due to lack of data.
This is also because many users build their local knowledge upon
data brought to them via geodata distributors. They clearly want
the placenames to be available everywhere so people will be better
equipped to know the name of every hill and valley, if a name
exists. I think this should give an idea of the data density:
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<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://atlas.lmi.is/ornefnasja/">http://atlas.lmi.is/ornefnasja/</a>
(more placenames appear as you zoom in closer)<br>
<br>
In the current draft, they suggest that place names and their
location should be open data. Here's a rough translation of the
corresponding article:<br>
<blockquote>Article 9<br>
<i>Placename database</i><i>.</i><br>
National Land Survey of Iceland, in cooperation with The Árni
Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies, shall file placenames
into a centralised database and maintain it.<br>
The contents of the database shall be accessible as open data
and free of charge.<br>
Into the placename database shall, among other things, file:<br>
a. Placenames in a proper notation,<br>
b. Alignment of the placename,<br>
c. The namebearer type.<br>
The Minister shall with regulation provide further definitions
for the contents, filing and arrangements of the database
according to this Article.<br>
</blockquote>
Open data is not defined in Icelandic law so the reference is not
clear and the meaning could be misinterpreted. I think it'll the
first time Icelandic law would have that reference. I was
wondering, should I comment on the draft and suggest that the
database should be in the public domain? Database rights are
defined in Icelandic copyright law and the public domain exception
doesn't cover databases so I think such a change would avoid any
unneccessary problems.<br>
<br>
What do you think?<br>
<br>
With regards,<br>
Svavar Kjarrval<br>
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