[OSM-legal-talk] Why is the data protected?

[Andreas Perstinger]

On 2010-11-28 21:29, Rob Myers wrote:
> One concern some people have is that large datasets donated to or
> imported into the project will either be unable to be relicenced or will
> take several years to be relicenced.

Ok, but it seems that these aren't a big problem (except 
Nearmap/Australia - http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Import/Catalogue).

Would you argue that every user also donates a kind of database although 
he always adds just some parts?

>> Isn't the content the users provide just facts (at least the
>> coordinates, some tags could be questionable)?
>
> Well the tags are an important part of the whole. :-)

Yeah, I know :-) But I would argue that even some of them are just facts 
(eg name of a street)

> It's important to remember that OSM is an international project, and
> that the law covering data and databases is much less standardized
> internationally than it is for artistic works or software. How much
> originality you need in a database in order to claim copyright over it
> is an open question in much of the world (including America and
> Australia, the two places where people are most adamant that it is
> resolved). And then there's the database right.

I spent a few hours today reading about it :-).

> That would alienate people and could lead to legal action.
>
> Either would be a sufficient reason not to do it.

I'm with you. I just want to know what legal actions were possible. That 
doesn't mean I want to fight this fight :-)

Bye, Andreas