[OSM-talk] How is there not any creative-type (US) copyright in OSM data?

[OJ W]

On Sun, Dec 6, 2009 at 4:59 PM, Anthony <osm at inbox.org> wrote:
> We could, however, introduce a "arc" tag...  To represent an arc, you only need
> three points (start, end, and any third point on the arc uniquely defines a
> triangle which is circumscribed by exactly one circle).
>
> Of course, I can't copyright this idea...

Not least because only one person is allowed to have each idea, and
somebody has already had this idea...

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/EP0919788.html