[OpenLayers-Users] copyright box on Google Maps layer

[Michael]

May I suggest another perspective?  Or refresh one, if it was already 
your plan...

Completely *removing* the copyright notice, where someone has put their 
stuff out there saying "if you use it, you must preserve the copyright 
notice" may not exemplify the best practices of our community.  In its 
way, it's as inappropriate as taking open-source code and repackaging it 
as proprietary.

Even Google, in its Terms of Use (shorter, by the way, than a GPL 
License) implicitly acknowledges that you can remove the notice, but 
must replace it elsewhere.

So, for those of us using Google Maps, or other sources that bear 
attribution, let's at least replace the copyright box with an 
appropriate line such as "Google Map content (C) Google, TeleAtlas and 
their suppliers" somewhere appropriate.  I think other discussions have 
also looked to preserve the spirit of the notices, which is a fine practice.

I don't work for Google, but have spent many years as a Silicon Valley 
technology lawyer fighting on this front.  I've found that the best way 
to avoid warfare is to show a little courtesy and respect for the 
efforts of others.  Even if the "other" is a huge corporation.

Michael

Here's the Google TOU clause:

*All uses of Google Maps and Google Earth and Content MUST provide 
attribution to Google and our suppliers. In no circumstance do we 
approve of any use of Content without proper attribution. Requests for 
exceptions will not be answered.*

Attribution is the line(s) shown on the bottom of the Content in the 
products along with copyright notices, such as "©2011 Google, Map Data 
©2011 Tele Atlas." (The exact text of the attribution changes based on 
geography and Content type.) The attribution text must be legible to the 
average viewer or reader. The automatically-generated Google logo and 
attribution text may only be removed or obstructed if reintroduced in a 
visible form elsewhere within the Content. In print use, if for some 
reason attribution cannot be placed within the Content, separate 
attribution text must be provided directly adjacent to the Content. In 
video, attribution must appear on-screen for the entire duration the 
Content is displayed; we cannot approve requests to move attribution to 
end credits.

--------------------


On 5/26/2011 7:08 AM, Mr. Puneet Kishor wrote:
> So, I have started getting that infamous copyright box on Google Maps layer. I had no problems so far, never saw that box. Never changed the code, but today I noticed that every time I visit my web page, the copyright box is there.
>
> I am using OL 2.10.
>
> A few additional notes --
>
> I tried searching the OL mailing list archive, but the search via nabble widget [http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/openlayers-users] is broken. I get a stream of Java errors spewed by Jetty.
>
> I tried scanning the archives but quickly started seeing doubles. I did notice that four months of email list archives are missing at [http://lists.osgeo.org/pipermail/openlayers-users/].
>
> Anyway, help on getting rid of that copyright box would be much appreciated.
>
> Puneet._______________________________________________
> Users mailing list
> Users at lists.osgeo.org
> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/openlayers-users
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