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=What is the license, how can I use it?=
=The OpenStreetMap License= ▼
▲==The OpenStreetMap Geodata License ==
The OpenStreetMap project is proposing to move to a new license, known as the '''Open Database License (ODbL)''' which would replace the existing CCBYSA license due to problems with the CCBYSA license when applied to data. The license is intended to clarify the terms under which people make contributions to the project and the terms under which people can use the data. It is a basically a share alike license for data.
The OpenStreetMap project provides increasingly extensive map data for the entire world that you can download and use for ANY purpose you like.
The Foundation supports the adoption of this license and has reviewed it with their lawyers and it is now being discussed by the community. The proposed license has been developed by [http://www.opendatacommons.org/ OpenDataCommons] a project of the [http://www.okfn.org/ Open Knowledge Foundation].
Usage of the geodata is controlled by a license. The most important thing about the license is that you do not have to pay anybody anything to use the data. There are NO copyright, license, usage or other fees. You may use the data for personal, community, educational, commercial, government or any other use that you can think of. We, the OpenStreetMap community, ask only two things in return.
The Foundation's License Working Group presented a [[:File:License Proposal.pdf|proposal document]] to the members. A summary was also presented at the State Of The Map 2009 conference. This process is documented [[Working Group Minutes|here]]. We also welcome any review and comment by other bodies working in the open intellectual properties rights arena, and have published an [[License/Open Letter|open letter]] asking for their views.
Firstly, that you attribute OpenStreetMap, i.e. you show clearly where you got the data from. A lot of contributors have spent and spend a lot of time and effort adding data from virtually every country in the world. We would also like people to know about our project and perhaps use or contribute data themselves.
The proposed license comes in two parts. One, the [http://www.opendatacommons.org/licenses/odbl/ Open Database License (ODbL)] covers the database itself and, and a set of upgraded [[License/Contributor_Terms| Contributor Terms]] covers the content of the database.
Secondly, you "Share Alike". If you publicly distribute something that you have made from our data, such as a map or another database, and you have added to or enhanced our data, then we want you to make those additions publicly available. We obviously prefer it if you added the data straight back to our database, but you do not have to, as long as the public can easily get a copy of what you have done. If you do not publicly distribute anything, then you do not have to share anything.
The license remains firmly rooted in the attribution, share-alike provisions of the existing Creative Commons License but the ODbL is far more suitable for open factual databases rather than the creative works of art. It extends far greater potential protection and is far clearer when, why and where the share-alike provisions are triggered. There are further reasons for moving away from CC BY-SA [[License/Why CC BY-SA is Unsuitable|here]].
Our current license is called [[http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/|"CC-BY-SA", the Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike version 2.0]. Here is [[http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/|human readable summary]] and here is [[http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/legalcode| the full text]].
== Acceptance and Implementation Process ==
We are currently changing the license, [[License/About The License Change|read more about it here]]. If fully accepted by our community, data will be re-licensed under the Open Data Commons
We have a [[osm:Open_Data_License/Implementation_Plan|proposed adoption plan]]. This is not cast in stone and we welcome direct comments on [[osm:Talk:Open_Data_License/Implementation_Plan|the discussion page for the plan]].
Both licenses are broadly the same, you can use the data without payment, provided that you "Attribute" and "Share Alike". However, the new license is specifically written for databases. It offers our project more protection. Attribution is more practical. It is a lot clearer on when "Share Alike" is triggered. It also always you to make maps with layers from different data with incompatible licenses. In short, we want even more people to use our data.
OSMF members have voted on whether they wish to put the current version of the new license to the community for adoption and then begin the adoption process itself. The [http://lists.openstreetmap.org/pipermail/osmf-talk/2009-December/000753.html results from 270 members polled] are:
==Is it really free?==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
| Approved the process:
|style="text-align:right" | 132
|-
| Did not approve the process:
|style="text-align:right" | 16
|-
| Didn't vote:
|style="text-align:right" | 122
|}
Yes!
alternatively,
== How should I attribute you? ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
| Approval rate:
| 89%
|-
| Turnout rate:
| 55%
|}
== What do you mean by Share-Alike?==
Personal statements from community members making the case [[osm:Open Data License/Why You Should Vote Yes|for]] and [[osm:Open Data License/Why You Should Vote No|against]] the change are available [[osm:Open Data License|on the OSM wiki]]. For the full details of the voting results, see [[License/OSMF member vote results|member vote results]].
== MoreWhat informationlicense we use ==
More information including use cases and open issues is available [[osm:Open Database License|on the OSM wiki]].
== More information about CC-BY-SA ==
== More information about ODBL ==
|