[Freegis-list] Geographic/spatial data policies

[Brent Wood]

Hi all...

While this list is primarily interested in Open Source Software, in some areas
gov't funded data is the subject of a similar debate, regarding costs &
distribution. Like my feelings on software, I believe the value of such data is
in how widely it can be used, rather than how much money can be made from it,
especially when the taxpayer funded the data collection in the first place.

When it comes to OS GIS software, without good data, the software is of limited
use.

Anyway, a new book has been released which may be of interest. It discusses a
range of issues & approaches:

Licensing Geographic Data & Services
by the National Research Council 

ISBN 0-309-09267-1 (book)
ISBN 0-309-54457-2 (PDF)

or read/skim online at http://books.nap.edu/catalog/11079.html


Brent Wood