OpenGeofiction
OpenGeofiction (opengeofiction.net, commonly abbreviated as OGF) is a map of an imaginary world that uses OpenStreetMap technology. It is separate from the OpenStreetMap project.
The OpenGeofiction project contents (data, wiki, blog...) are published under the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA) 3.0 license, which makes it incompatible with OpenStreetMap data.
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Purpose
This project has its own enforced policy: its purpose is a pure artistic creation project (or game with its rules) which forbids using any data representing real object on Earth. Even the displayed names must be invented.
The map is in constant evolution (work in progress), it may evolve over time more rapidly and more dramatically than what occurs on real Earth. It has its own imaginary local events similar to what exists on Earth: hurricanes, floodings, volcanoes, political events, dictatures or democratic processes; islands or continents may appear suddenly or disappear completely; cities may be destroyed or replanned completely differently by their authors in their approved area of work; shipping lines or roads may appear or disappear, a previously dry desert could become a rain forest...
So, the purpose of OpenGeofiction is to have its data completely freely reusable and derivable, without any conditions caused by third party rights (except proper attribution). As well, participants can use OpenGeofiction data to create custom innovative renderers or test rendering options, or test/tune their map layout and rendering engines, which may then be reused on other data (including OSM licenced data).
Furthermore, the OpenGeofiction map is not universally modifiable by anyone, without prior authorization. You can only work in specific areas that were coordinated and approved by the OpenGeofiction community.
Users that want to test their bots or imports must use their own OSM server instance: the software needed to install and run an OSM-like server and API is fully opensourced and published by the OSM Foundation (see Develop).
OpenGeofiction enforced policy
- More details : About OpenGeofiction
- Be realistic
- Keep it real. No fantasy, science fiction, joke countries, etc. This means that it will create a world that resembles the world we know, but which is not Earth: it looks quite similar, but it is completely different in all details.
- Be original
- No imports from OSM. No copying trademarked maps. Doing these things may get you banned.
- No extensive copying of real world geography. Try to avoid using well-known place names, real or fictional. No real world companies or organizations.
- All wiki images—photos and artwork—must be free to use, and must contain a link to source and/or copyright info. All OpenGeofiction wiki text must be your own writing.
- No copying others' mapping, without their permission.
- Be respectful
- No mapping in others' countries or moving the borders of others' countries without their permission. No writing about others' countries in the OpenGeofiction wiki without permission.
- Respect the open seas by following the rules for sea borders, island building, and shipping lines.
- Do not extend your country beyond its shape on the overview map. For borders with unclaimed neighbor countries, keep them within 10 km of the original line.
- No sockpuppets. Only one account per user.
- No vandalism. No offensive or insulting content.
- No "empires of paper" in the OpenGeofiction wiki—avoid overwikification.
- Be active
- After a prolonged period of inactivity, we may mark your territory for withdrawal. Then, if still no activity happens or we don't otherwise hear from you during the following several weeks, we'll mark the territory as free for other users to claim, and close your account.
See also
- OpenGeofiction wiki, for documentation, coordination and talks
- OpenGeofiction World News Center, a blog for the most recent innovations (until 2018) or ongoing works in the project.