7 ms·

The license seems to already require this: https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright/ https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright/ Maybe I am misunderstanding the su

The license seems to already require this: https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright/ https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright/ Maybe I am misunderstanding the summary, but it says: "If you publicly use any adapted version of this database, or works produced from an adapted database, you must also offer that adapted database under the ODbL." <https://opendatacommons.org/licenses/odbl/summary/ https://opendatacommons.org/licenses/odbl/summary/>

mips_avatar 2mo ago
Yeah the problem is what's considered an adapted database. If it was strict it would mean apps like Alltrails (which is 90% openstreetmaps data) would need to list their trailmaps as open databases, but they don't.
- cwillu 2mo ago
  The problem is that factual details aren't copyrightable in the first place, so no amount of licensing will prevent organizations with enough money to pay a lawyer from understanding this and using the data as they see fit. And on the flip side, those organizations can pay those same lawyers to write scary boilerplate to make it seem like their map data is “proprietary” and therefore “protected by copyright” even though it isn't.
  - bluGill 2mo ago
    Maps Traditionally have a few intentional errors because those are copyright, in turn meaning if one is found you can sue for copyright violations.
    - cwillu 2mo ago
      I know that's the common story, but I have never seen any actual court cases confirming that theory; certainly the recoverable damages from such copying such an error would be minuscule.
      - technothrasher 2mo ago
        Wikipedia has an entry that lists a few court cases, mostly showing that this strategy, as you surmise, fails to stand up in court. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fictitious_entry https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fictitious_entry
maxerickson 2mo ago
They probably aren't really using the OSM data. For example, if I use Google Maps to drive to a new neighborhood and then take a bunch of notes about the new neighborhood, my notes are not subject to the terms and conditions of Google Maps.

mips_avatar 2mo ago

Yeah the problem is what's considered an adapted database. If it was strict it would mean apps like Alltrails (which is 90% openstreetmaps data) would need to list their trailmaps as open databases, but they don't.

cwillu 2mo ago
The problem is that factual details aren't copyrightable in the first place, so no amount of licensing will prevent organizations with enough money to pay a lawyer from understanding this and using the data as they see fit. And on the flip side, those organizations can pay those same lawyers to write scary boilerplate to make it seem like their map data is “proprietary” and therefore “protected by copyright” even though it isn't.
- bluGill 2mo ago
  Maps Traditionally have a few intentional errors because those are copyright, in turn meaning if one is found you can sue for copyright violations.
  - cwillu 2mo ago
    I know that's the common story, but I have never seen any actual court cases confirming that theory; certainly the recoverable damages from such copying such an error would be minuscule.
    - technothrasher 2mo ago
      Wikipedia has an entry that lists a few court cases, mostly showing that this strategy, as you surmise, fails to stand up in court. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fictitious_entry https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fictitious_entry

maxerickson 2mo ago

They probably aren't really using the OSM data. For example, if I use Google Maps to drive to a new neighborhood and then take a bunch of notes about the new neighborhood, my notes are not subject to the terms and conditions of Google Maps.