[Fedora-packaging] Re: License issue for all GIS related packages. [call for help]

Axel Thimm Axel.Thimm at ATrpms.net
Tue Jun 26 01:37:29 UTC 2007


On Tue, Jun 26, 2007 at 01:27:19AM +0200, Balint Cristian wrote:
>  
> > ======================
> > 
> > So, to sum it up, here's what we would like to see:
> > 
> > The license needs to permit people to create derived works of the EPSG
> > dataset. Simply because we cannot fathom any possible derived works does
> > not mean that the right should be withheld. This is at the very heart of
> > open source and free software. However, it is perfectly acceptable to
> > say that those derived works may not call themselves the EPSG dataset.
> 
>  Yes I agree. Understood here.
> 
>    However to be bad a bit, i really look forward for someone who can invent a 
> new projection for his own pospose :-) Maybe. It will be never used by no one,
> not even for survey the back yard garden :) Maybe bottom of my aquarium ?
>   it wouldn be serious one at all.

A projection would be an application of the data, not a modification
of this data.

And the EPSG data aren't the holy grail either, there is more precise
data available (non-free). Consider you being a company or some entity
that wants to refine the data for a certain part of the world, you
wouldn't have the right to do so.

I can think of tons of applications that would require
changing/refining the data. Even for changing the format and base
coordination system to adapt to computations for a given problem,
which semantically would not modify the data, but technically it does
and could be violating the license again (I haven't read the license,
just infering from what this thread is discussing).

>    But than, e.g if i invent one wich i think fit perfect  for some land i will look
>  forward anyway for someone's help to  certificate at all it, since i will not be able 
> to claim it is functional and better and more precise than i dont know wich one 
> particulary. And if its about certificate it probably i go EPSG to help me out.

Or maybe a competing entity that will have emerged. And with a
non-free dataset you would be bound to the rights holder.

>   Maybe its similar with encryption algorithms, where olso is pretty difficult
> to come out these days with a new one, and claim its performance and usability
> in some ways. I still can use my early high scool one invented  
> "reverse mixing of ABC letters" TM at all, but probably  just for send out mail to my 
> girlfriend  :-D
> 
>    Just my +.5 cent opinion, i still think here is very low interest to alter EPSG and 
> make derivative work out of it. It see total nonsense in real world.
> 
> 
> > 
> > If we can get that, we can include the EPSG dataset in Fedora. :)
> 
> Would be great !
> 
> > ~spot
> > 
> > 
> > 
> 
> 
> 





-- 
Axel.Thimm at ATrpms.net
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