[Talk-ca] Postal Codes

[Immanuel Giulea]

Google maps already provides point-to-point postal codes.

Wikipedia gives a list of all the postal codes.

Is OSM trying to copy this feature?

Immanuel
On Dec 30, 2014 1:16 PM, "James Ewen" <ve6srv at gmail.com> wrote:

> On Tue, Dec 30, 2014 at 7:37 AM, Adam Martin <s.adam.martin at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > I was reading over the previous discussions held here regarding the
> issue of
> > obtaining postal codes for use with civic addresses in Canada. I
> understand
> > that, unless specific permission is obtained, there is no way to utilize
> the
> > information stored in the Canada Post database, even if that information
> is
> > manually acquired from the database during a lookup.
> >
> > Anyway, it would appear that obtaining the information from Canada Post
> is,
> > basically, a dead end. Might I suggest an alternative? Why not a
> volunteer
> > effort? I can't look up a code and reproduce it on the map, but I can
> surely
> > put my own postal code and those of my previous addresses into the map.
> That
> > knowledge has nothing to do with looking it up on their website.
>
> Here's where I have a hard time understanding how postal code
> information can ever be used in OSM.
>
> Who created the postal code information? The information can't be
> traced back to farmer Brown who lived on this lane in 1642, hence the
> road name "Brown Lane".
>
> I believe Canada Post created the database, and defines which areas
> are within the bounds of a particular forward sortation area, local
> delivery unit. They can change these bounds as necessary.
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postal_codes_in_Canada
>
> Since OSM can't use any restricted information sources, and must rely
> on non-encumbered information, how can Canada Post postal code
> information ever be considered "common knowledge" or "open data"?
>
> If you look up my postal code, and put it on an envelope, when I
> receive that letter, and see my postal code, does it suddenly become
> public knowledge, and Canada Post loses the right to maintain control?
>
> If I print out a Google Map, and hand you that copy, does the Google
> Map data become non-encumbered?
>
> The only way to know the postal code for any specific location is to
> have at one point referenced the Canada Post database, either
> directly, or indirectly.
>
> Road names, town names etc. can be argued to precede the map databases
> in a number of cases, and have a legal right to be used. In current
> towns and cities, when the planners make up road names, it could be
> thought of that the designers hold the copyright on the road name
> database (if asserted).
>
> I don't see where a completely contrived database of information that
> is created and controlled by an entity which asserts copyright will
> ever be able to be used in an unencumbered manner, no matter how many
> times removed from accessing the database the data is derived.
>
> The idea of each person in Canada providing their specific postal code
> to an OSM database does not remove the hold which Canada Post asserts.
> It would be illegal for one person to copy the database as a whole, so
> why would it be legal for >30 million people to copy one piece of the
> database and pool that information?
>
> I love the idea of OSM and would like to see all data available and in
> use in the OSM database, but I've always had a hard time figuring out
> the line of distinction between encumbered and unencumbered
> information sources.
>
> James
> VE6SRV
>
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