[Openstreetmap] Old map copyrights

[Frank Mohr]

Jo Walsh wrote:
> On Thu, Apr 21, 2005 at 01:41:07PM +0200, Jeremy Stocks wrote:
> 
>>Isn't there some kind of 100 year rule by which one can use this map?
> 
> 
> as i understand it, in the UK, Crown Copyright (which covers
> state-collected geodata) expires after 50 years. how this compares
> with euro-legislation i'd be curious to know.

there an article about map copyright in germany on the german wikipedia 
(in german)

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rechte_an_Geoinformationen

short summary:

Maps are protected by 'Urheberrecht' (the german equivalent of 
copyright) for 70 years (after death of creator/after publication if 
anonymous). 70 years is the current time .. probably that war changed 
and older maps are protected for a shorter time.

According to a rulling of the Bundesgerichtshof (highest german court)
only the map representation is protected, not the content.
(BGH, Urteil vom 28. Mai 1998, Az. I ZR 81/96, Stadtplanwerk).

Additionaly
- there is a 50 year rule for aerial photography (publishd + 50 y)
- databases have a 15 year copyright

Frank