[OSM-talk] [OSM-legal-talk] OSMF - OSM usage guidelines

[Charles Basenga Kiyanda]

> Your argument falls on the assumption that what appears on the map is
> a "fact". If it is plain wrong or an easter egg then it is
> copyrightable, and just by looking at the map there is no way to
> tell...
>   
You're correct, although what I was referring to was

> Also 
> brings up that question about whether the OS hold copyright on people's 
> learning (if I learnt the name of something on an OS map in 1981, does the OS 
> still hold copyright on my knowledge of it? I'd presume common sense would 
> say no)

In the case of the easter egg, although I'm no expert either, I could 
see how you are correct. Then there's the problem of telling the 
difference between an easter egg/misspelling and correct street names on 
a map. I do wonder if one can argue that it's reasonnable to expect 
street names on a map to be facts? In any case, while I think we agree, 
Martijn, let me rephrase my original point: There are situations which 
could result in copyright infringiment, I don't think asking someone for 
the name of the street, even if he's learned that name from a map, could 
be construed as infringiment. If the name of the street is obscure 
enough that even people living on it have come to believe it is named by 
what is an easter egg/misspelling on a map (or several maps), I don't 
think anyone could sue you successfully for copyright infringiment.

Maybe this has been discussed at length on osm-legal-talk. I'm new 
around here and I have, maybe, just not seen it yet. Maybe I should just 
subscribe to that list as well, where this discussion might be more 
relevant.

Charles