[OSM-newbies] Pennsylvania traffic-count data: is the license OK?
Glenn Ammons
glenn.ammons at gmail.com
Mon Oct 5 18:27:27 BST 2009
I discovered OpenStreetMap last week and immediately thought that it
would be great to import more data about my current home state of
Pennsylvania. There is a lot of data available at this website:
http://www.pasda.psu.edu
However, I'm not sure that the licenses on this data are acceptable
for OpenStreetMap. For example, here is the license for the state's
traffic-count data:
The user shall indemnify, save harmless, and, if requested, defend the
COMMONWEALTH, their officers, agents, and employees from and against
any suits, claims, or actions for injury, death, or property damage
arising out of the use of or any defect in the FILES or any
accompanying documentation.
The COMMONWEALTH excludes any and all implied warranties, including
warranties or merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.
The COMMONWEALTH makes no warranty or representation, either express
or implied, with respect to the FILES or accompanying documentation,
including its quality, performance, merchantability, or fitness for a
particular purpose. The FILES and documentation are provided "as is"
and the USER assumes the entire risk as to its quality and
performance.
The COMMONWEALTH will not be liable for any direct, indirect, special,
incidental, or consequential damages arising out of the use or
inability to use the FILES or any accompanying documentation.
The USER is granted permission to translate and add value to the FILES
for the use of the FILES on its computer hardware; provided, however,
that the USER annually notify the UNIVERSITY / COMMONWEALTH of any
customizing or value-adding work done.
Any customized or value added versions of the files will contain the
following disclaimer:
THIS IS NOT A PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION APPROVED
FILE. THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION RETAINS THE MASTER FILES.
THE USER AGREES AND UNDERSTANDS THAT IT MAY NOT FURTHER DISTRIBUTE THE
FILES TO A THIRD PARTY.
If you have any questions or problems, contact the ORGANIZATION where
you acquired the data.
I'm not a lawyer but these requirements seem problematic to me:
defending the commonwealth, annually notifying the
university/commonwealth about customizations and added value, and
including a disclaimer that forbids redistribution.
What do you all think? Is data under this license usable in OpenStreetMap?
Thanks.
--glenn
West Chester, PA, USA
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