[OSM-talk] Data copied from Google Maps

[Stephan Knauss]

Janko Mihelić writes: 

> Nobody answered yet. How is copying from Streetview photos not the same as
> copying from satellite photos? Both are photos, both show facts, both are
> owned by Google.

It's unlikely that factual data is copyrightable. There had been multiple 
discussions in the past, along with relevant legal citations. Better head 
over to legal-talk for a more profound statement.
Use your trusted search engine to find more:
http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Copyright_in_deriving_from_aerial_photogr
aphy 


As long as the legal situation is not 100% clear, OSM community agreed not 
to import from dubious sources. 

The key part is the TOS. They forbid to use services provided by Google to 
do mass-extraction of data. Click in Google on "Terms" to learn more. 

While it was confirmed by Ed Parsons that is OK to look up single facts, he 
clearly stated that Armchair Mapping is considered Mass extraction and thus 
not OK. 

As a community we strongly favor on the ground survey also for the fact 
that imagery is very often outdated. 


It was already mentioned, but I like to repeat: It's also an established 
community rule that we don't delete data just because we have a different 
opinion on whether it should be in OSM. We ALWAYS contact the mapper first.
This is why OSM has a "send message" function implemented and clearly shows 
who created an element. 


Stephan