[odc-discuss] Concerns about the ODBL preventing copying cost recovery

Fri Aug 20 11:47:57 UTC 2010

Hi MJ

On 19 Aug 2010, at 18:46, MJ Ray wrote:

> I have a question about ODBL - is clause 4.6 satisfied by offering an
> offline copy even if the Produced Work or Derived Database is online,
> and does "free of charge" prevent charging for the cost of copying?
> 
>    "The Derivative Database (under a.) or alteration file (under b.) must be
>    available at no more than a reasonable production cost for physical
>    distributions and free of charge if distributed over the internet."

As Eben Moglen says, the GPL is like a constitution of the free software movement.  Similarly, I see the ODbL as document where consensus and best practices arrived at through discussion form an important part of using the license.  I can't really be an "official voice" of exactly how it should be interpreted, as you might have a different interpretation.  So if you'll allow me answering your question with a question:

Do you think that based on 4.6:

-- that "free of charge" means without any monetary fee whatsoever?
-- that an offline copy would satisfy the conditions of the license?

Thanks!

~Jordan

> 
> Thanks,
> -- 
> MJ Ray (slef) Webmaster and developer for hire at | software
> www.software.coop http://mjr.towers.org.uk        |  .... co
> IMO only: see http://mjr.towers.org.uk/email.html |  .... op
> 
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____
Mr. Jordan S Hatcher, JD, LLM

More at: <http://www.jordanhatcher.com>
Co-founder:  <http://www.opendatacommons.org>
Open Knowledge: <http://www.okfn.org/>