I'm not familiar with the particular project/maps/geodata in
question, but a blanket statement that claiming copyright on a map
is "absurdity" is itself wrong.
-Dan
If I'm not mistaken, the thread is not about the copyrightability of
maps themselves, but the copyrightability of location data pertaining
to digital maps, i.e. the very "non-pictoral fact compilations"
mentioned in the statement you provided.
- --
Cary Bass
Volunteer Coordinator, Wikimedia Foundation
It may have started off that way, but my impression was it quickly became "All maps
are free". That may have been a misinterpretation of GerardM's post.
My broader point is that the situation is not entirely black and white. Blanket statements
that "all X can never be done" are a bit dangerous to make.
-Dan