USGS DRGs being held to ransom!

[Jo Walsh]

dear geodata posse, 

I had not run across this project before - http://libre.redjar.org/maps/
- an effort to collect and freely redistribute 1:24K USGS DRGs. Now
the maintainer is becoming desperate: [[ I am holding every 1:24,000 
scale DRG topographic map hostage ]] - http://ransom.redjar.org

Once the dataset escapes captivity, it could be a great candidate to
stick behind a WMS on the repository at telascience. 

Commentary and/or related art would be gratefully received, i think. 

cheers, 


jo
----- Forwarded message from Jared <jared at redjar.org> -----

Delivered-To: jo at vishnu.tridity.org
To: jo at frot.org
From: Jared <jared at redjar.org>
Subject: Free the Maps!
Date: Sun, 27 Aug 2006 16:59:47 -0400

Hi Jo,

I've read about Public Geo Data project and was hoping you could help  
me out with a similar project I've been working on in the US.  While  
the map/gis data that the US government creates is Public Domain,  
they still charge for actually getting the data.  2.5 years ago I  
started the Libre Map Project: http://libre.redjar.org/maps
The goal is obtain this data and make it available for free via the  
Internet.  I've primarily been focused on collecting DRG topographic  
maps to begin with.  It has been a slow process.  So I've decided to  
turn it up a notch by using the "Ransom Model".

I've purchased all the US DRG's (digital topographic maps) from a  
USGS business partner.  The Internet Archive has agreed to host the  
data, but before I hand over the data, I've put up a $1600 ransom  
that must be met through donations and purchases of the data on DVD.   
Once the ransom is met, every map will be made Freely available for  
download.

My motivation is strictly to make this data Freely available for  
others.  I'm hoping that you can help out by spreading the word about  
the project.  If you have questions or any other feedback, please let  
me know.

The map ransom page is here:
http://ransom.redjar.org/

Thanks for your time.
-jared

----- End forwarded message -----