Russ, you're basically asking whether a PD source retains its PD status even if channeled through a number of probably non-PD services.
This is no different from the question: If the OSM database is licensed "X", and if I put some data in there which is PD, can someone else then extract this from OSM as PD, or will he extract it as "X"? A co-worker of yours, CloudMade's very own Andy Allan, had this to say about the topic: "I'm not sure what makes you think that any data you take from the OpenStreetMap database could possibly not be covered by the CC-BY-SA license. [...] if a contributor (including bulk uploaders) is/are willing to *also* put a copy of their data into the public domain, then you should enquire from them to receive a copy of their data duly licensed [...] just because vast amounts of OSM data came from TIGER doesn't mean that any of that data in OSM is still public domain." (quotes from http://lists.openstreetmap.org/pipermail/legal-general/2008-November/000073.html) I am leaning towards your interpretation of things; PD stuff remains PD even if conveyed through non-PD means. However, be aware that if you extract information from USGS data as conveyed by Microsoft and still treat it as public domain, you would also have to agree to other people extracting TIGER information as conveyed by OpenStreetMap. (Also: What if Microsoft insert Easter Eggs and claim they're a work of art?) Bye Frederik -- Frederik Ramm ## eMail [email protected] ## N49°00'09" E008°23'33" _______________________________________________ legal-talk mailing list [email protected] http://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/legal-talk
