I don't think anyone has even suggested "copyrighting coordinates". There's a big difference between that and creating a proprietary database of public information. You can copyright dictionaries (but not common words), atlases (but not places), etc.
--- In gpsstash@y..., Dave Seaton wrote: > released into the public domain. > Assuming the idea of copyrighting coordinates was sane in the first place, > you cannot copyright these because I have just placed them in the public > domain.
And while I've got my fingers typing in flame mode, I'll put in my 2 cents on the whole issue of geocaching.com and its relation to the rapidly developing sport of geocaching. You don't have to like the site (I do) or what Jeremy's doing (I do). This sport will grow on its own. Once its started it has a life of its own. Someone willing to put a lot of work in can help to give direction to its early stages but can never be in control of it. When you go to his site and put your coordinates in, you're doing it voluntarily. No one is coercing you. You are contributing to HIS database, which he has every right to share in whatever way he likes. If you don't like it, don't contribute. Start an optional one. As the sport grows this is likely to be exactly what happens. Geocaching.com will only survive to the extent that people like it. Likely, there will be other sites and lists that crop up with reviews of the various sites and recommendations, etc. In this way, geocaching is no different from any other activity or interest that grows in popularity. I can understand the desire for a single free, easily accessible, public database of every cache in existence but this is really a pipe dream. Not everyone could agree on every aspect of how it should be implemented and not everyone would even want their caches listed in it. If you waited for a concensus nothing would get done. Someone has simply taken the initiave to do something the way they want it while being as open minded as possible to other peoples suggestions. Again, like lots of other hobbies, and perhaps more so by intention, this one bleeds across lines into several other areas (geomatics, hiking, treasure hunting, problem solving, orienteering, etc) and will defy any attempt to canonize it. The discussion of micro caches, virtual caches, and offset caches are examples. My suggestion is to relax and enjoy it for whatever reasons you're drawn to it. If you want more than what is being offered or you have qualms with _how_ it's being offered, go ahead and do it your own way. There's nothing wrong with the increasing diversity of opinion within this sport. Feel free to flame me, I deserve it (and it makes my point).