[Freegis-list] GeoGratis

[Frank Warmerdam]

Jan-Oliver Wagner wrote:
> I emailed Geogratis first time Feb 9th 2000 and
> asked them to whether the terms of use (which are not 100% clear to me)
> can be interpreted in the way that the data are free, free in the sense of free speech.
> I asked again Feb 26th 2001 due to Franks hint.
> 
> I never received an answer.
> Does anyone on this list has had some contact with Geogratis?

Jan,

What particular questions do you have?  According to the most prominantely
displayed terms (http://www.geogratis.ca/e_license.html) I think the data
would not qualify as properly free because clause 4 indicates that the
data is not licensed for redistribution via the Internet without modification.

I believe this clause exists because of an ill-advised desire to keep track
of the number of copies being used by tracking the number of copies downloaded.
This helps justify program funding.  

Note that the problem clause does not apply to modified data, so perhaps
someone could stage the interesting datasets modify by translating into 
another file format or something similarly harmless.  

Best regards,

---------------------------------------+--------------------------------------
I set the clouds in motion - turn up   | Frank Warmerdam, warmerdam at pobox.com
light and sound - activate the windows | http://pobox.com/~warmerda
and watch the world go round - Rush    | Geospatial Programmer for Rent