This will depend entirely on the source of the map. For example, all USGS maps are free of copyright encumbrances, under the provision of US law that places all government publications in the public domain. UK maps are very unlikely to be free of copyright - the only primary data providers are the OS, the AA and Bartholomews, and none of these provides "copyright free" data - and usually the information is licensed rather than sold. With regard to maps, the fair-dealing provision is not well defined. I think that any copying of an area larger than would be required to show the style of a map would be illegal. One often sees extracts a few cm square in reviews of maps, but rarely larger. As the primary intent of the fair-dealing provision is to allow reproduction for review, I rather fancy that you would be on a sticky wicket if you allowed reproduction of areas larger than that. In other words, an area large enough to be useful as a map would probably not be regarded as "fair-dealing".
Warning - I am NOT a legal expert, merely an interested amateur. If this is a serious problem, then you should consult a lawyer with copyright expertise. The Association for Geographic Information would probably be able to advise you.
Paul Cooper
>>> "Richard Abbott" <[log in to unmask]> 28 July 2000 09:40:16 >>>
Does anyone have a succinct statement of guidelines to be followed in making
'fair-dealing' photocopies of non-Ordnance Survey maps (including foreign maps)
for the general public; I have encountered contradictory advice in this
respect. I'm sure it would be of interest to other list members if you could
post any convenient statements on lis-maps.
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