[Freegis-list] WMS services

[strk]

On Tue, May 10, 2005 at 11:59:15AM +0200, Bernhard Reiter wrote:
> Am 10. May 2005 um 11:43:58 schrieb strk:
> > On Tue, May 10, 2005 at 02:10:38AM -0700, Brent Wood wrote:
> > > 
> > > --- strk <strk at keybit.net> wrote:
> 
> > > However, many of these are commercial sites, or use non OS
> > > server software. Not sure if this is the sort of thing you were
> > > after?
> > 
> > I don't care about server software being used, just looking
> > for 'libre' data access.
> 
> The question for FreeGIS in this is: 
> Is the data "free" in the sense of freedom and liberty.
> While the debate is not completely concluded what the concept of
> freedom means to geo graphic data and maps, 
> for now it seems practical to use something similiar like for software:
> * You can use the data/maps (unlimited in time and area)
> * You study/adapty -> which basically means you get it in a format
> that is suitable to process it further. This needs further clarification.

I didn't do much research on it, but isn't WFS a good start point
for further processing ?

> * You can give it to others, by coyping.
> * You can publish improved versions.
> 
> > Public data should be free, the earth is the place we all leave in,
> > do we need to pay in order to get a "picture" of it ??
> 
> Well even on the internet you pay the bandwith, 
> or on CD you would pay the material and copying costs.
> Thus I would consider the four aspects above to be more important,
> than the transport fees.
> 
> 	Bernhard

I agree, the 4 freedoms above are more important.
Service price is ok, as long as it is compatible with them.

Authenticated/priced WMS/WFS servers sound fair to me, as long as
the data downloaded from the services can then be freely redistributed
and inspected (WFS?) and improved. Does the INSPIRE directive says
anything in this direction ?

--strk;