Statute law
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Information on statute law as it specifically relates to geodata. See WIPO for the largest collection of statute law. (See also: Case law.)
European Union
- This paper is a very comprehensive discussion of how copyright and database right apply to geodata. (It concludes that copyright is not applicable, but database right is.)
- A paper presented at a 2006 ESDI workshop covered some issues of geodata IP. Abstract (p108), presentation.
Netherlands
- See this paper for some pointers: "Due to their factual and standardized character geographic information often does not meet the requirements of originality, required by copyright. However, common law shows that geo-information with a personal view can be protected by copyright. This is for example true for topographical maps: the generalization, use of colours and symbols may represent a personal view of how the data is represented on a map.
- Also see [1] (2.2.4).
United Kingdom
- Base resource is Copyright, Rights in Performances, Publication Right, Database Right; unofficial consolidated text of UK legislation - all UK copyright/database right law in one place.
- A paper presented at an Ordnance Survey-organised conference discussing database right and copyright as applied to geodata.
United States
The copyright Case law of the United States can be reviewed by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17) and Related Laws Contained in Title 17 of the United States Code.
However the basic framework related to the current copyright law in the US was enacted as Public Law No. 94-553, 90 Stat. on October 19, 1976. Known as the Copyright Act of 1976.
Rest of the world
Australia
The statute for copyright law in Australia is defined in the [Act]
There is no statute law explicitly defining database right in Australia, however such a right has been held to exist. See case law
- The Australian Copyright Council produces a document on copyright for maps and charts in Australia Information sheet G090.