[OSM-talk] Maps and names

[Richard Fairhurst]

Emil wrote:
> Thanks for that.  I'll make a quick point: this person copied the
> whole map; no-one here is questioning the copyright of the visual
> representation of maps. The question remains: would using isolated
> facts off a map consitute infringment of a database right?

Slightly off-subject, but...

We were in Oxford today, and I went for a look at the "Intellectual  
Property Law" section of Blackwells bookshop. Huge amounts of relevant  
texts, citing all the case law you might want. (For a relevant  
example, I found one book which had two discussions of Bridgeman vs  
Corel, which - to simplify vastly - concluded that it probably  
_doesn't_ stand up under UK law.)

When I'm a bit less impecunious, I might pick up a couple of these  
books so that the IANAL discussions can be a bit more informed. At the  
moment we're kind of talking in the dark based on our own prejudices,  
half-formed opinions, and a bit of selective Googling. Until then, if  
anyone else feels like educating themselves, Blackwells is a great  
shop. :)

cheers
Richard