[OSM-legal-talk] [OSM-talk] The OSM licence: where we are, where we're going

[rob at robmyers.org]

Quoting Tom Hughes <tom at compton.nu>:

> To my mind the interesting question about the ODL is how (or perhaps
> whether) it works in jurisdictions without database rights.
>
> On the face it claims to work in those jurisdictions via contract
> law, but what is not clear to me is how you require people to enter
> into that contract.

Yes this is my concern about the ODL. The GPL for example is a license  
not a contract in US law terms. A contract would be more problematic:

http://lwn.net/Articles/61292/

If ODL (or any other licence) "leaks" in non-DB-right jurisdictions or  
is legally problematic then this would be a reason for considering the  
public domain route.

- Rob.