[Talk-GB] Copyright in OS-derived maps
Edward Bainton
bainton.ete at gmail.com
Thu Sep 5 11:15:10 UTC 2019
Jez wrote:
> i'm just trying to get on with my business....using a resource bought and
paid for with my hard earned tax money....
My understanding, from a relative who did a lot of lobbying for libraries
on copyright and data law, is that electronic publishing has caused a total
revolution in how these things work.
In the past the map you bought and paid for really was your resource. Fair
enough, copyright prevented you from just going into business and printing
off more copies to sell on, or even keep for your own use; but other than
that you could do what you liked with the property in your hands -
including trace round the field you want to sell to your neighbour.
The recent change to electronic everything is that no one ever parts with
the resource at all - they make it available under licence (= a permission
to do with something what would ordinarily be forbidden). As a private
contract that you freely agree to, the licensor can put just about anything
in the terms they like and courts will enforce that agreement.
Profit-making business will alway outgun the public/community/charity
sector in the lobby rounds, so legislation grants only highly restrictive
public-interest exemptions. In the case of OS that is especially galling,
given that it was public money that built the map.
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