Reworking of survey maps

Will you, under the Act, confirm on deny that:

Licensees can, within the terms of their licenses, rework the surveys maps by combining and thereby transforming different Ordnance Survey maps from different years in such a way as to produce, not a reproduction of the Surveys original mapping, but to produce a unique map inconsistent with the original maps that; depict firm features such as buildings, schools or churches on the ground juxtaposed in such a way, or missing, that is inconsistent with the concurrence of those firm features, such as buildings, schools or churches, and their existence, on the ground as depicted on the original maps.

Thank you for your undated letter, received by Ordnance Survey on the 24^th February 2011. I confirm Ordnance Survey does hold the information you have requested, and we are pleased to provide you with the following information in response to your request:

Ordnance Survey mapping is protected by virtue of the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988. Our mapping is protected for 50 years from the end of the year in which the map was published, for example a map dated 1942 would have gone out of copyright on 31 December 1992.

Copying of Ordnance Survey material which is within copyright can be authorised under separate copyright licenses depending on the use of the material. Further information about Crown copyright is given on our webpage at the following link:
http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/aboutus/yourinforights/copyright/index.html

Where an individual or a business wants to create their own map using Ordnance Survey material, which can include tracing, referring to the Ordnance Survey map to create their own map and photocopying and scanning, then a licence is required. If the resulting map is to be made available to others, either with or without charge then we would term this as publishing.

There are two licenses that we would consider issuing to anyone who wished to publish a map created from Ordnance Survey material:

• Copyright Publishing Licence – suitable for individuals/businesses wanting to make small print runs on an ad hoc basis or
• Publishing Products Specific Use Contract under the Specific Use Framework Partner Licence, which is more suitable for high volume commercial publishing.

The royalties charged for the reproductions made under these licenses depend on the size of the finished map, the number of copies printed and whether the final map to be published is what we define as Facsimile copy of the original Ordnance Survey material or is Redrawn using Ordnance Survey material. Licensees can produce Facsimile mapping subject to size restrictions or Redraw the map to their own specification – there is no size restriction where Ordnance Survey mapping is Redrawn.

Facsimile mapping is a copy or reproduction of Ordnance Survey mapping that is the same or similar in style and appearance to Ordnance Survey mapping, albeit that some alterations or additions may have been made.  Redrawn mapping means the use of mapping within a publication that has been redrawn or compiled with reference to Ordnance Survey maps but are not exact or facsimile copies and do not look like the Ordnance Survey maps.

Further information about our Copyright Publishing licence is given at the following website link:
http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/business/copyright/docs/D01308.pdf

The terms and conditions of the Copyright Publishing Licence, including the definitions of Facsimile and Redrawn mapping can be viewed on the Ordnance Survey website at the following link:
http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/business/copyright/docs/L0079_M.pdf

Please note that your enquiry has been processed according to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000. As all requested information has been provided, we have determined that in all the circumstances of this case the Public interest consideration (section 17 FOIA) is not applicable in this instance.

If you are unhappy with our response, you may raise an appeal to our Appeals Officer at:

FOI Appeals Officer
Customer Service Centre
Ordnance Survey
Adanac Drive
SOUTHAMPTON
SO16 0AS

Please include the reference number below. The Appeals Officer will ensure that the process has been followed correctly, questioning any decisions taken regarding the original response and recommending disclosure of additional information if appropriate.

Thank you for your enquiry.

Reference number: FOI11141/February 2011