[Foundation-l] Copyrighted maps and Derived works

[David Gerard]

On 1 April 2010 14:58, Alison M. Wheeler <wikimedia at 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.