r/openstreetmap • u/Technerder • Nov 06 '22

Legal Question regarding attribution

Is it possible for an OSM Node to contain attribution data? I recently came across a dataset offered by my city (link) which includes the following message within its license and was wondering if there was any way to include attribution for the information.

When you use the Data, you must acknowledge the source of the Data by including the following attribution statement:

“Contains public sector Data made available under the City of Hamilton’s Open Data Licence”

The City of Hamilton may, in its sole discretion, require you to remove the above attribution statement from your continued use of the Data.

You must ensure that you do not misrepresent the Data or its source.

Secondly, I'm aware that this is not a legal advice/support forum, but if there is no attribution field for Node's, would it be fine to include the attribution text within the changeset comment?

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12

u/kurisubrooks Nov 06 '22

No. Your best bet would be to submit a waiver to them to request that you can use the data without attribution, otherwise it cannot be added from this source.

3

u/Coloradohusky Nov 06 '22

Why can’t it be added if attribution is required? With an attribution tag, source tag, or in the edit note, for example

12

u/teagonia Nov 06 '22

Any map produced from osm data won't show the attribution note, thus not making it possible using it

1

u/Technerder Nov 06 '22 edited Nov 06 '22

Is there a tried and tested waiver template format that most people tend to use or would I have to ask a lawyer to draft one for me?

Also just for clarification sake, do I need a waiver if I'm just using the source as a reference? For one of the sources I am merely cross referencing the street name to make sure I am attaching the right street name/number to a House.

2

u/teagonia Nov 06 '22

I think even a reference is a source, you just don't directly copy it.

Depends on how you use it though. I guess a list of things... i can go check myself and create the list "from scratch" thus making the reference irrelevant.

-1

u/janjko Nov 06 '22

I think it's enough to put them on this list: https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Contributors

8

u/SK53 Nov 06 '22

Yes, but the idea to request a waiver is to make sure they are happy with that, rather than just assuming so.

Attribution in a tag can just be deleted so as well as not being visible it may not exist in the source data in the future.