[OSM-talk] geonames considered harmful

[Lars Aronsson]

Emil wrote:

> Just to point out something here: Data is not in general "licensed".
> Licenses only apply to data covered by copyright.

This is both correct, and not the entire truth.  Licenses are 
contracts that provide exceptions from restrictions to access.  
Copyright is one form of restriction to access, but not the only 
one.  Trade secrets is a far more common restriction.  I can keep 
my data secret, and provide access to you on a contractual basis, 
through an individual license agreement.  That data has never been 
"published" and doesn't need copyright protection.  This is how 
proprietary software was distributed until the 1970s or early 
1980s, when copyright law (in most countries) was extended to 
cover computer software, making it possible to publish software 
and still keep it proprietary.  Still today, even though software 
is covered by copyright law, most proprietary software comes with 
an end-user license agreement.  Data being made available through 
many websites also come with a license agreement that you have to 
approve before you are given access.  You must keep track of the 
various contracts you enter into.


-- 
  Lars Aronsson (lars at aronsson.se)
  Aronsson Datateknik - http://aronsson.se