[OSM-talk] Canadian (Gov't supplied) vector data

[Interlug]

On Thu, 2006-03-08 at 16:39 +0100, Emil wrote:

I asked a law student (also not a lawyer, but smarter than me) in Canada
about both of the following questions.

> I'm not sure it does.... They say it can be revoked at any time, and
> in any case is only valid for 1 year....

[Law student reply, not legal advice]
> The way I read the agreement is that once the agreement is terminated,
> the
> licensee's rights to use the data terminates immediately, or as soon
> as
> reasonably possible to allow the production of derivative works
> flowing from the
> data [clause 6.0 sub 3].  This suggests to me that it is the ORIGINAL
> DATA, but
> not the DERIVATIVE WORK that is protected, which means you would be
> able to
> continue to use the derivative work even once your access to the data
> has been
> eliminated (provided, of course, that you do not require access to the
> original
> data to use the derivative work).  There should be no infringement in
> using the
> derivative work.
[my emphasis]

> Also the whole thing is quite dodgy, referring to "Intellectual
> property rights", whatever they are, rather than copyrights, etc. It
> reads more like an EULA. I think they're confused.

[Law student reply, not legal advice]
> Use of the phrase 'intellectual property rights' is actually broader
> than mere
> copyright, and encompasses this and any other intellectual property
> right --
> it's more inclusive, and therefore, more protective.

So that phrasing seems to be accepted in Canada.

The above combined with this from the GeoBase.ca site:
http://geobase.ca/geobase/en/about/index.html
The Plan
A national initiative was created under which federal, provincial,
territorial and municipal government data stakeholders agreed to
cooperate and work collectively, to ensure the availability of
high-quality geospatial base information covering the entire Canadian
landmass. The underlying principles of cooperation between the various
partners are to provide access to:

      * Quality geospatial data (current, accurate, consistent and
        maintained)
      * Unique geospatial data (one data, collected once and maintained
        closest to the source)
      * Data at no cost and with no restrictions for users

And this: http://geobase.ca/geobase/en/about/faq.html#government

In all countries, production of basic topographic information is the
sole responsibility of the government. In economic terms, topographic
mapping and geospatial data is considered a public good.

By making GeoBase data available, the government will stimulate the
economy and facilitate the exchange of technical knowledge between
industry and governments. The academia knowledge will increase and
benefit from having access this data.

Suggest that they are "okay with it" from a legal point of view (IANAL).
I've sent a note asking for a CC-by-sa license to use the data.  I'll
let you know if I get a reply.  

My question is more along the technical side.  How? and Who?  And, I
guess, "Just how big a production would it be to do this?"    

Cheers,