[gdal-dev] OziExplorer (ozf2) Files with GDAL?

[Oliver Eichler]

> The work on an ozf2 driver has already started. Oliver, as you mentioned
> it, do you know if this could be a problem and if I should ask the
> OziExplorer guys to allow me this?

Hi,

I had problems with reengineering the GeoGrid format by EADS. They claim to 
have an expired patent on this and thus a copyright on the format itself. 
They closed 3 sites about their format by that. According to a German lawyer 
converting their undocumented format with no encryption (!) is legal. However 
the copyright holder of the content might object. 

But EADS has the big money and a rather bored law department. And they want to 
charge the user twice for their lousy format. Fighting their stupid claims 
costs money and time. As QLandkarte GT is free open source in spirit and 
beer, I won't take up the fight and so did all the others.

Ok, that is EADS. I don't know how Ozi thinks about it. And I do not want to 
know it. QLandkarte GT is GeoTiff only. That's safe. For your commercial 
product you might think different. And IMHO it's allways a good idea to ask.


Oliver