[Aust-NZ] OSM Licensing - [was Fwd: RE: Aust-NZ Digest, Vol 36, Issue 8] [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

[Robin Paulson]

On 6 September 2010 12:12, Bruce Bannerman <B.Bannerman at bom.gov.au> wrote:
> What is wrong with CC licenses?

they are designed to cover creative works.

osm data is a database, i.e. not creative but facts. there is a far
better write up on the osm wiki

thus a cc license is possibly not the correct one to use

> Why does OSM feel the need to go to an Open Database License?

if the osm data is not appropriately protected, the fear is that
someone may take the data, improve it and close it off

> Working in the Public sector, I know how long it has taken for people to
> start to understand and accept CC licenses. Many still haven’t.
>
> IMO, OSM has got ‘Buckley’s Chance’ of getting Government data released
> under an Open Database License in the foreseeable future, if at all.

this may well be true. personally, i think protecting what we have is
more important. working to import data is no use if (yes, that 'if' is
contingent upon other things) it is then taken by GlobalMapCorp,
improved, distributed, and those improvements not given back to the
commons