[OSM-legal-talk] propriety layer over OSM

[yoav kleinfeld]

I read previous threads but am still not sure how it applies to my following question. 

I'm checking the feasibility of a project I have in mind, I am not a programmer, so I will try asking in lay terms without confusing the issue, hoping to get an answer that would get through my thick non-technical skull.

I have an idea for a web/mobile application that would require an additional layer over OSM, or other maps for that matter. The layer would be street level data, for example - categorical information on a range of street numbers (Broadway 1 through 280 = x1, 280 through 600 = x2), basically creating data for a street sections similar to traffic directions. 

I would like to use the OSM map, and perhaps also its capabilities of layer data input. But I would like to keep the data sets created by my users propriety, so that quicker programmers will not be able to duplicate my work using this data. 

So in short, my question is if it is possible to use OSM to create a closed layer, and keep the data in that layer accessible only through my service? 

This may sound like not very good citizenship, but - the service will probably be free to use, and will incorporate require other layers of data shared with (and contributed to) OSM. I just need one specific data set - layer - to be closed in order to make the project commercially feasible. And just for sympathy points - if I get going with this I will have to fund it by eating rice and beans for a while and selling the lint in my pockets, I'm still a student basically. 

Thanks for any input you may have. And a reminder - not a programmer, not a copyright lawyer. 
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