[OSM-legal-talk] Fwd: Re: [OSM-talk] OSM layer into Adobe Illustrator?

[Frederik Ramm]

Hi,

>> The main problem is not that they can't use the map, it's that they
>> don't know that they certainly can use the map. The license  
>> doesn't make
>> it clear enough - they will always fear they have some future need  
>> for
>> the map, that they can't do.
>
> This is the same with any licensing scheme, including proprietary
> licensing. OSM is not a higher risk.

If you buy a dataset from OSM, there's a very detailed written  
explanation on what you may and may not do with the data. And if you  
are in doubt wheter it is ok to use the data for a specific project,  
you can ask them and get a definitve, and legally binding, answer.

If I am not mistaken it was you who laughed at people who hoped to  
get such kinds of answers from the providers of OSM data. "Hire a  
lawyer yourself", you said.

 From this alone, it should be obvious that, at least currently,  
using OSM data does pose a higher risk of legal troubles that using  
commercially licensed data.

>> I can't persuade them, because it's easier for them to find another
>> designer than it is for them to listen. Big corporates are like that.
>> It's hard enough to persuade them to use Linux as a web server.  
>> "But we
>> don't have any in house developers!" I can't do SA. I would have  
>> to use
>> another data source.
>
> This would not harm you, as the cost will be included in your  
> budget. And it
> will not harm OSM, as the project would gain no new data anyway.

The idea that "gaining new data" is the paramount goal of OSM and  
anything that doesn't have an influence on "OSM gaining new data"  
does not harm OSM is short-sighted.

We are very much interested in world domination, er, a very  
widespread use of our data (which, in turn, will make us better known  
and perhaps lead to more contributions!). Anything that hinders such  
widespread use could be interpreted - and is by Y.T. - as harming OSM.

Bye
Frederik

-- 
Frederik Ramm  ##  eMail frederik at remote.org  ##  N49°00.09' E008°23.33'