Re: FN-FORUM: Ordnance Survey map data

date posted 16th May 2007 15:13

Peter Agambar wrote:
> Tony,
>
> If the original grid locations were taken from an OS source (paper or
> mapdata) then the OS can claim copyright. You would need to use a GPS and
> go out and record the LAT/LNG. It's no different than taking a passage out
> of a book sending that to someone so they can use it as a quote in their
> work. It is still copyright covered. Check out creative commons website
> http://creativecommons.org It does sound silly but the OS are very
> protective because they spend many millions each year making sure the
> coordinates are accurate.

then copyright in this instance is stupid.

what you are saying is that I cannot give you a grid reference for my
house in order that you can find me.

I doubt very much if the OS could enforce copyright infringement if I
publish a list of OS references on my website.

have you any case law to support this?

I can almost accept that they might have some rights over any map I
create using a set of GR's, but it's flimsy at best.

the grid reference is a fact, you can't ethically copyright facts or
data, only the execution or expression of that data, otherwise facts
become secrets and what's the point of a secret grid reference system.

someone somewhere is UTOA on this one!

;)