On 1 April 2010 14:58, Alison M. Wheeler <wikimedia(a)alisonwheeler.com> wrote:
2. Taking an image from a satellite or aeroplane image
requires no copyrightable skill: Camera points down, takes images at fixed focus at
regular time intervals. Images are published.
Minor detail - although this is a valid point philosophically, as I
understand it the current state of things is that such imagery is in
fact considered to have a valid copyright, even if the creative input
is "let's send up a plane and set this automatic camera going" or
"let's build a robot with a camera and start it in a given place" or
"let's send a probe to Saturn and have it take pictures." NASA images
are PD not because of no creativity, but because they're US Federal
Government works.
- d.