Ottawa/Import/Permission
We have received permission from the city of Ottawa to import/use data into openstreetmaps Email below:
from: James <------@gmail.com>(edited because I dont want my email public)
to: stephen.perkins@ottawa.ca
date: Fri, Aug 14, 2015 at 4:25 PM
subject: Open data usage
Hi Stephen, I was wondering if we may use the data from data.ottawa.ca/datasets (mainly address file) for importing into a project called openstreetmap. This information would be very useful and can help a lot of people. We would give the city of Ottawa credit via the URL of course. I am requesting so as our license may be incompatible see license: http://opendatacommons.org/licenses/odbl/
Jamie Nadeau
from: Perkins, Stephen M <Stephen.Perkins@ottawa.ca>
to: James <------@gmail.com> (edited because I dont want my email public)
date: Mon, Aug 17, 2015 at 11:16 AM
subject: Re: Open data usage
Yes! Our Open Data can be used for this. We should have Open Data addresses and road centrelines that will be good for openstreetmap. If you have any questions about the data, please just ask. - Stephen
from: Perkins, Stephen M <Stephen.Perkins@ottawa.ca>
to: James <------@gmail.com> (edited because I dont want my email public)
"Giggey, Robert" <Robert.Giggey@ottawa.ca>
date: Wed, Aug 19, 2015 at 10:08 AM
subject: RE: Open data usage
James,
I’m going to forward this inquiry on to Robert Giggey. He is in charge of the Open Data program at the City. I must say, I am a little surprised that this interpretation is so restrictive. I personally was not aware of this. I will also follow-up with Robert in this regard.
-Stephen
from: Giggey, Robert <Robert.Giggey@ottawa.ca>
to: James <------@gmail.com> (edited because I dont want my email public)
cc: "Perkins, Stephen M" <Stephen.Perkins@ottawa.ca>
date: Thu, Aug 20, 2015 at 3:22 PM
subject: RE: Open data usage
Hi James, thank-you for the email. I’m not sure I understand the compatibility grid. Is there a particular issue you are concerned about?
Note: we have plans to adapt the Open Government License Canada but have not been able to do that quite yet; however, there are few differences between the two, so if there’s a specific item you are concerned about it I might be able to shed some light on how we treat it.
Thank-you,
Robert Giggey
Program Manager |Content Design & Development
ServiceOttawa
613-292-5235
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from: James <------@gmail.com> (edited because I dont want my email public)
to: "Giggey, Robert" <Robert.Giggey@ottawa.ca>
cc: "Perkins, Stephen M" <Stephen.Perkins@ottawa.ca>
date: Thu, Aug 20, 2015 at 7:41 PM
subject: RE: Open data usage
The column on the left is the license the data is licensed under and the green and red boxes show the compatibility between other licenses.
Anyways, here is what is mostly incompatible with the open license. Specifically Ottawa has the reserved the right of cancellation of access to the data:
The City may, in its sole discretion, cancel or suspend your access to the datasets without notice and for any reason, including anything which the City, in its sole discretion, believes is a breach of these Terms of Use or is otherwise unlawful or harmful to others. In the event of cancellation or suspension, you will no longer be authorized to use or reproduce these datasets, and the City may use any means possible to enforce its decision. Such cancellation or suspension will not affect any person who has received the datasets from you and who is otherwise in compliance with these Terms of Use.
Basically, you can revoke the access and OSM will be forced to comply, removing the data and, as a result, any edits made that were based off that data.
The other problem is the Liability clause. If you feel the use was a breach, then you may sue, indemnifying OSM and making it open to litigation. We, as users, don't have the right to do that.
The Canada Open data license 2.0 is compatible with OSM, but if there are changes to that license, that's when incompatibilities can start to popup
from: Giggey, Robert <Robert.Giggey@ottawa.ca>
to: James <------@gmail.com> (edited because I dont want my email public)
cc: "Perkins, Stephen M" <Stephen.Perkins@ottawa.ca>
date: Fri, Aug 21, 2015 at 10:16 AM
subject: RE: Open data usage
Hi James, thank-you for the information.
We are hoping to move to the Open Government License – Canada later this year, so hearing that it’s currently compliant with OSM is good. I would say that the language in our current terms of use is intended to cover us for inappropriate use and since 2010 has never been done. While I couldn’t define inappropriate this would be creating things that do obvious harm to the City, support illegal activity, etc. Further if there was some abuse, e.g. completely overtaxing our system it was a means to cut off access as needed. It would seem to me that the OGL-Canada can do the same through the “You must, where you do any of the above” and “no warranty” sections.
I can’t give you an exact timeline for the change but we are hoping to make the switch before year’s end. I hope this and the information provided above is helpful and perhaps allows you to move forward with using our data. Further, if you would like you could tell me your intended use of the data and I could write back with confirmation that based on your description this section of the terms of use would not seem to be an issue.
Thank-you,
Robert Giggey
Program Manager |Content Design & Development
ServiceOttawa
613-292-5235
twitter | linkedin | yammer
from: James <------@gmail.com> (edited because I dont want my email public)
to: "Giggey, Robert" <Robert.Giggey@ottawa.ca>
cc: "Perkins, Stephen M" <Stephen.Perkins@ottawa.ca>
date: Fri, Aug 21, 2015 at 10:21 AM
subject: Re: Open data usage
I want to import them into OSM as applications such as OSMAND (android and now Iphone) offer offline navigation (instead of using data from google maps and using expensive cell data) users and easily navigate around Ottawa. All they have to do is download the offline data a head of time and can consult 100% of the data without using any cell data. I have used this in Europe and works really well to avoid data roaming charges.
from: Giggey, Robert <Robert.Giggey@ottawa.ca>
to: James <------@gmail.com> (edited because I dont want my email public)
cc: "Perkins, Stephen M" <Stephen.Perkins@ottawa.ca>
date: Fri, Aug 21, 2015 at 10:23 AM
Hi James, with the usage you’ve described below I do not see any concern with regards to our terms of use and encourage you to move forward with this. It sounds like an excellent initiative.
Thank-you,
Robert Giggey
Program Manager |Content Design & Development
ServiceOttawa
613-292-5235
twitter | linkedin | yammer