Yesterday, I wanted to quote the wiki about the fact that “we can’t use other maps to add data to the OpenStreetMap database”.
From the JOSM perspective this rule seems important (and I agree) !
But, unfortunately I realised that there was no specific page on this subject on the OpenStreetMap Wiki. We should have this wiki page, that why I’ve created this (very little, for the moment) one : Don't copy from other maps - OpenStreetMap Wiki
As with “tagging for the renderer”, “don’t copy from other maps” is a oft-repeated phrase that needs more nuance. A wiki page is a good way to provide a counterpoint to any misuse of the phrase.
Exactly. The first minute after someone signs up for OSM is when you get the big picture messages across. You have the rest of their editing career to do “well actually”.
We see plenty of people who genuinely don’t realise you can’t just copy from Google Maps. (Some of them then try to start a long Reddit thread with “wElL fAcTs CaN’t bE cOpYrIgHtEd” which is really tedious to answer with contracts and case law and different jurisdictions and yadda yadda.) Start with “don’t copy”, do the details later.
I don’t know who to trust more: armchair lawyers like me on this forum, or armchair lawyers on Reddit whose analyses get slurped up by LLMs and then copied by real lawyers…
Apologies for any confusion - I’m not at all disagreeing with the value of this article or its title! And, I do think it’s important to very clearly explain the more nuanced details within the article.
I am also surprised to find out that there was no Wiki page , so thank you for raising this issue and starting that page.
Still, I thing we need an even more general overview that summarizes which data sources are kosher to use in OSM, even on a high level that may not necessarily answer every dilemma. That information is currently scattered on:
Nederland lists most of its permitted sources on the Contributors page. Don’t know how up-to-date that is, though. Note to self: check sources on contributors page. It could use a section listing generally disallowed sources?
I’d also suggest mentioning “If it’s in iD or Rapid, it’s safe to use!”
That’s an easy answer to the follow-up question I see people nervously ask after people warn of illegal map-copying: “Ok, so I can’t use most things because they’re copyrighted…what can I use?”
While that is true for iD because the ELI maintainers have over the years shown to take the matter seriously (this applies for JOSM too, but as their system is only reactive, there’s been a slightly higher incidence of things slipping through the cracks).
But does Rapid even use ELI?
I would note that if we are discussing actual maps (contrary to other sources we potentially use) there are no copyright grey areas, there’s a largish body of case law in numerous jurisdictions that make that clear.
“Most licenses used by Commons images do not allow them to be used for mapping.” — dubious claim, because actual image (copyrighted work) will not be copied anyway, but facts, such as street signs, road markings is just facts and not affected by copyright, so license is irrelevant and this sentence is misleading.
