[OSM-talk] Breach of Copyright?
Richard Fairhurst
richard at systemed.net
Mon Sep 28 12:16:54 BST 2009
Nick Whitelegg wrote:
> One council (West Sussex) referred to its data as "public domain"
> when I last looked. I'd guess that's the same for all councils.
Bear in mind that "public domain" meaning "free of copyright" is a US term.
The traditional UK meaning is quite different.
In the UK, if you say "the map is now in the public domain", that means that
the map is now available to the public - i.e. it's not solely an internal
publication. It does not have any implications about copyright. Indeed, the
map may well still be copyrighted.
Here's how the UK Government defines it:
http://www.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/europeandtrade/strategic-export-control/licensing-policy/ecofaqs/page46253.html#q1
"In the public domain means the information is made available without any
restrictions, _other_ _than_ _copyright_, being placed on further
dissemination. For instance, information you place on your website that
anyone can download or that you publish in a sales brochure would be 'in the
public domain'."
(my emphasis)
Of course, the usage is (as with so many things) changing, particularly in
the IT field as a result of US influence. But don't for a moment think that
a council official telling you something is "in the public domain" means you
can upload it to OSM.
cheers
Richard
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