[OSM-dev] Looking for OSM Licensing Clarification

[Richard Weait]

The OpenStreetMap license ODbL is what is known as a Share Alike
license.  In that class of licenses, one is granted more permissions
when one shares and shares alike.  If, on the other hand, one wishes
to keep things for ones exclusive benefit, ones permissions are more
limited, perhaps even to a null set.

Again, in very broad terms, one has more freedom if one uses the
OpenStreetMap data without changing it.  Combining OpenStreetMap data
with other non-OpenStreetMap data sets, is an area where the
obligations to share are deliberately strong.

The details matter in this subject area, and it is a benefit for you
to understand your obligations from the start.  Please consider giving
more details and holding further discussion on the legal-talk@ mailing
list[1], which is the ideal location for this topic.

[1] https://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/legal-talk