[OSM-talk] Copyright and old maps

Mike Collinson mike at ayeltd.biz
Sat Jan 26 19:51:35 GMT 2008


At 08:03 PM 26/01/2008, Gregory wrote:
>Hi all,
>
>I was wondering about going to the local records office to look at old maps. Maybe use some to speed up an initial set of data for OSM (and building outlines which I can't get), and maybe just use some for interest to use on my website etc.
>
>What are the copyright rules about maps?
> - I roughly knew older than 50 years and the work losses all protection, hence why we can use NPE maps.
> - But I've just read this webpage that seems to say 70 years(point 6.1) <http://copyrightservice.co.uk/copyright/p01_uk_copyright_law>http://copyrightservice.co.uk/copyright/p01_uk_copyright_law

There is a good summary for the UK (and other jurisdictions) at :

http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/index.php/Out-of-copyright_maps

The NPE maps are Ordnance Survey, a government agency, so different rules of "Crown Copyright" applies - 50 rather than 70 years after the date of first publication.  Note that different rules again apply if the map is not commercially published by the government.

> - Would I still need permission from the record office to reproduce as they own the physical copy of the map (in addition to their general rules of copying to use for research)?

Unless someone corrects me: No, as it is (I assume) an original map and not a facsimile made by them.


>Maybe this should go to the legal list, but I'm not subscribed (and don't really wish to be), so sorry if this can't be answered on general talk.
>
>-- 
>Gregory
><mailto:nomoregrapes at gmail.com>nomoregrapes at gmail.com
>http://www.livingwithdragons.com 
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