Thus Spoke Eoghan: > 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. > >
While Jeremy isn't copyrighting coordinates per se, he is trying to maintain final control over the complete database he now posesses. I agree, he probably is within his rights to copyright the proprietary database he has worked so hard to accumulate. But does that make it kosher (morally right)? The data is available to all as it is. And geocaching.com is a slick website which I would like to see up for many more years. I just think trying to block your users from doing something they could do anyway (mine geocaching.com for it's data) with empty legal threats, instead of just giving them the functionality they want quickly and easily, is a bad call. I don't forsee the conflicts arising that you do in the different ways that the database can be made public, just make it as generic as possible, comma seperated would be perfect. Whether it is sectioned off by state, zip code, or whatever makes no difference to anyone. -- phishmonger@frop.net "We're living on the surface of a great big perpetual motion machine and composed of godzillions of little tiny ones, so shouldn't they be able to exist on our scale as well?" --from "'Bob' and the Oxygen Wars"