[mkgmap-dev] Question on license for style-file

Thu Jan 21 08:45:44 GMT 2010


On 21.01.2010 08:30, Marko Mäkelä wrote:
> Hi Felix,
>
> On Thu, Jan 21, 2010 at 02:31:19AM +0100, Felix Hartmann wrote:
>    
>> My main concern is that Garmin map publishers (like Onroute) use large
>> parts of my style-file to have better autorouting and produce closed
>> source commercial maps. They currently do many things wrong (even though
>> Onroute is the only one that ever gave autorouting for cyclists some
>> thought).
>>      
> Copyright only covers more or less verbatim copying, but not the copying
> of ideas.  Patents would offer wider protection, but they are a very
> controversial topic ("software patents") and out of the reach of anything
> but deep-pocket corporations that can afford patent attorneys.
>
>    
I do know that. However they can cover some ideas but not a complete 
concept.
>>    I already had quite a few ideas/concepts copied by Garmin map
>> compilers (e.g. using assymetric transparent lines - which was so
>> forgotten by Garmin or not intended that they stopped supporting it
>> until copying many parts for the Garmin Transalpin - if you look at
>> their typfile it really shows many traces of the typfiles I used when
>> starting my then called "mtb maps" on the osm wiki, or first versions of
>> my "openmtbmap".). I also assume Garmin map producers will start using
>> invisible routable lines (which I first used) or even several invisible
>> routable lines to overcome the shortcoming of the garmin
>> turn-time-penalties.
>>      
> They can be copying ideas from this mailing list already.  I don't think
> that there is any way to prevent the copying.  You would need an army of
> lawyers for that.  Only big corporations can afford that.  All we can do
> is to compete by quality.  The general public is becoming increasingly more
> aware of OpenStreetMap and the independence from proprietary map vendors.
> I hope that it is a positive feedback loop: the map is good enough for some
> users, users will make it even better, it becomes good enough for even more
> users, and so on.  Proprietary maps will never get accurate coverage of
> minor paths and the like.  Not even cycleways, at least not here.  So, most
> cyclists here should know to avoid buying maps. :-)
>    
> 	Marko
> _______________________________________________
> mkgmap-dev mailing list
> mkgmap-dev at lists.mkgmap.org.uk
> http://www.mkgmap.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/mkgmap-dev
>