[Foundation-l] Copyrighted maps and Derived works

[Alison M. Wheeler]

This whole thread is striking me as akin to a child going "but why" every five seconds ad infinitem.

Let's look at the issues here.

1. Google (and other companies, such as Microsoft and Yahoo) make available satellite / aeroplane images on the net, free at the point of use, for all to view.

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.

3. By using the geolocation of known reference points on each image block intermediate locations can be interpolated.

4. Geolocation data can also be obtained by hand-held devices and from paper maps and many other sources.

5. "mass database extraction" requires *mass* - ie large proportion or 100% extraction of that data. WP doesn't do that. Any extracts are made individually for each case required. There is no automation in place. Even if one were to presume to consolidate every WP editor into a supposed single entity (which is precluded by the very nature of the projects anyway) it still would not be "mass".

6. "mass database extraction" requires *database* - ie accessing that data in the form of data tuples. WP doesn't do that. If this source is used it is manually by eye by an individual reading and entering the data.

7. There is no database right applicable to this process for the same reason: there is no access by a WP editor to a *database( of tuples or otherwise.

8. Stating the source of a fact - any fact - within WP isn't required for anything which is self-evident ("The sky appears blue during the day and is dark at night") or easily provable ("gravity on earth pulls things down"). Geographic *co-ordinates* per se therefore do not need a source.

9. WP are not slavishly copying the source data, nor are we using the agglomeration of that data in the form of a map. As such we are not contravening the copyright nor contract law which may or may not apply.

10. What OSM does is not - directly - of concern to WP. And vice-versa. Obviously however one should hope that an equitable and valid way can be found to share information.

Alison

ps. The idea that satellite image is single POV is just silly!