Re: Geo::Postcode

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Carl Johnstone writes: 

>    
>  > IANAL, but I don't believe that either of these mean you 
>> couldn't build your own
>> postcode mapping. If you license it from them you'll be restricted by
>> contract law on what you can do, but if you don't, and build 
>> your own, I
>> don't think copyright law becomes an issue.
> 
> Again IANAL but I'd agree with that. 
> 
> The raw data itself is not copyright, it's the database that is. There's various other things that come under the same rules in the UK - the most popular being sports results. 
> 
> There's a database of postcodes -> long/lat already available as free download here: 
> 
> http://www.jibble.org/ukpostcodes/

That's where the sample data in Geo::Postcode comes from. There is no 
guarantee that it doesn't come from the PAF at some point, but the jibble 
people don't think so, and the format of it doesn't look like PAF data to 
me. 

The next step I fondly imagine is a low-effort mass-participation project in 
which people with gps gadgets can put in postcode/coordinate pairs. i don't 
see how that can be in violation of copyright, and would be prepared to 
stand up for that. openpostcode, anyone? 

but for now I'm aware that there may be IP issues at some point, especially 
if the module is widely adopted. I'm no lawyer either, so I can't predict 
what that will mean for users of the module: not much, i would think, and 
nothing at all for anyone who has bought their own data. 

best 

will 

 

> 
> As that's been up there for quite some time it's a reasonable indicator that the data is safe. I'd imagine that the compilers of that data can probably help with the legal questions. 
> 
> Carl   
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