I think we have had this discussion just last week, with respect to mapping data from the census. <div><br></div><div>It is not a question of what problems the railways could have, or the census authorities could have. It is simply the intellectual laziness that got them to declare the information copyrighted for reproduction with permission only, a loophole that allows any officer to sit on the release. In the case of the railways, it might be the fear that if they allow free use of such pictorial data, somebody might raise an objection on security grounds at some point in the future (never mind that truly dangerous - well, potentially dangerous, much depends on intent - photographic information can be gathered at low risk using modern photographic equipment). </div>
<div><br></div><div>I have not checked which Act covers this rail secrecy, but there used to be notices on every road and rail bridge forbidding photography on grounds of national security. <br><br><div class="gmail_quote">
On Fri, Jun 17, 2011 at 8:37 PM, Srikanth Ramakrishnan <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:rsrikanth05@gmail.com">rsrikanth05@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;">
Shiju, what problem can railways have?<br>A station is public property and hence nobody should be able to stop you from photographing it. It isn't covered under the Official Secrets Act, is it? Besides, if there was a problem, then a HUGE bunch of photographs from the Commons shouldn't exist. If it were illegal, how come so many films are shot in stations and trains?<br>
If anybody wants, I can get a sample clip of a road, which can be applied to rail as well.<br>--Regards,<div><div></div><div class="h5"><br><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On 17 June 2011 17:48, Pradeep Mohandas <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:pradeep.mohandas@gmail.com" target="_blank">pradeep.mohandas@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">hi,<br>
<br>
I think since what we want to do is videotape a railway route, the<br>
driver's bogey is more suited to this. I would want to film during day<br>
time only under good visibility conditions, where possible.<br>
<br>
I think we could give the CC-BY-SA license to the Indian Railways.<br>
<br>
I do not think there'll be too many people to worry about unlike<br>
Google Street View.<br>
<br>
Another interesting project could be trying to film rivers from source<br>
to where it meets the sea.<br>
<br>
It'll also be a way to map a few things.<br>
<br>
Great points! Never thought this could be such an interesting<br>
discussion. Flipcams are great too!<br>
<br>
Pradeep<br>
<div><div></div><div><br>
On 17/06/2011, Vickram Crishna <<a href="mailto:vvcrishna@radiophony.com" target="_blank">vvcrishna@radiophony.com</a>> wrote:<br>
> On Fri, Jun 17, 2011 at 4:42 PM, Pradeep Mohandas <<br>
> <a href="mailto:pradeep.mohandas@gmail.com" target="_blank">pradeep.mohandas@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br>
><br>
>> hi,<br>
>><br>
>> I understand. But the question is that of access to the driver/guard<br>
>> bogey.<br>
>> We can either be there or not be there at all. Another issue is that we<br>
>> can<br>
>> use the video during daytime only.<br>
>><br>
>> It's an interesting logistical exercise along with having a "free" video<br>
>> tape of all of that length of railway line.<br>
>><br>
><br>
> Quite apart from the permission of the Railway authorities, please be aware<br>
> that we, all of us, have a responsibility not to inadvertently record anyone<br>
> without their express permission. This may not be expressed explicitly in<br>
> legal terms in India, hence may not cross the line being drawn by the<br>
> Creative Commons partners, but is nevertheless an important distinction to<br>
> be recognised whilst undertaking anything as incredibly scaled up as this.<br>
> It could be done, in practical terms, by editing all the footage and<br>
> blurring all faces, mostly automatically.<br>
><br>
> For those who think perhaps this is a sort of googly, please do some reading<br>
> on Google Street View, and the judgments of the European Court, aside from<br>
> individual countries such as UK and Germany, just for perspective.<br>
><br>
> I am totally in favour of this project being done, by the way. If enough<br>
> people can be found across the country who have time and access to Flips, I<br>
> doubt it would be very difficult to carry out, provided the Railways is<br>
> willing (and it is not illegal) to allow people in the Guard Bogies. I have<br>
> seen Flip night recordings, by the way, and do not think this is a major<br>
> impediment either.<br>
><br>
> With care (for individuals/faces), I think it might even be possible to do<br>
> on some city suburban rail lines. It may not require any permissions, if it<br>
> is done from passenger carriages. But doing it from the motorman's viewpoint<br>
> (definitely needs permission) could create some totally fascinating footage.<br>
><br>
><br>
> --<br>
> Vickram<br>
</div></div>> Fool On The Hill <<a href="http://communicall.wordpress.com" target="_blank">http://communicall.wordpress.com</a>><br>
<div><div></div><div>><br>
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