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Re: EPSG data reviewing in progress

I don't know if this conversation is supposed to happen elsewhere, or perhaps with a smaller CC list, but: 

Francesco Poli wrote:

EPSG dataset

Terms of use, revised 22/03/2007 (proposed - not adopted!)

The EPSG geodetic parameter dataset is owned jointly and severally by
the members of the Surveying and Positioning Committee of the
International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (OGP), formerly
the European Petroleum Survey Group (EPSG). It is compiled by the
Geodetic Subcommittee of the OGP from publicly available and
member-supplied information and distributed at no charge through the
internet.

The user assumes the entire risk as to the accuracy and the use of
this data. The data may be used, copied and distributed subject to
the following conditions:

 1. INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT
    WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT
    NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND/OR
    FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
 2. The data may be included in any commercial package provided that
    any commerciality is based on value added by the provider and not
    on a value ascribed to the EPSG dataset which is made available
    at no charge. The ownership of the EPSG dataset [OGP] must be
    acknowledged.
This is non-free :-( But they shouldn't be concerned about people selling it standalone; the customers will soon realise they've been duped, and bang goes that business relationship. 


 3. Subsets of information may be extracted from the dataset. Users
    are advised that coordinate reference system and coordinate
    transformation descriptions are incomplete unless all elements
    detailed as essential in OGP Surveying and Positioning Guidance
    Note 7-1 annex F are included.
This second sentence, while not non-free, should not be part of the license terms, as it is not related to the license. 


 4. Essental elements should preferably be reproduced as described in
    the dataset. Modification of parameter values is permitted as
    described in OGP Surveying and Positioning Guidance Note 7-1
    annex G to allow change to the content of the information
    provided that numeric equivalence is achieved. Numeric
    equivalence refers to the results of geodetic calculations in
    which the parameters are used, for example (i) conversion of
    ellipsoid defining parameters, or (ii) conversion of parameters
    between one and two standard parallel projection methods, or
    (iii) conversion of parameters between 7-parameter geocentric
    transformation methods
 5. No data that has been modified other than as permitted in these
    terms and conditions shall be attributed to the EPSG dataset.
This leaves open the question "If I don't attribute the data to EPSG, can I modify it in ways other than stated in this licence?". This is ambiguous. What does "preferably" mean, legally? Do I have to or don't I? 

I suggest reframing 4 and 5 something like this:
4. You may copy, modify and/or distribute this data for any purpose. Modified data sets may not be attributed to EPSG unless parameter values are only modified as described in OGP Surveying and Positioning Guidance Note 7-1 annex G, and numeric equivalence is achieved. Numeric equivalence refers to the results of geodetic calculations in which the parameters are used, for example (i) conversion of ellipsoid defining parameters, or (ii) conversion of parameters between one and two standard parallel projection methods, or (iii) conversion of parameters between 7-parameter geocentric transformation methods. 

Gerv
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