--- Begin Forwarded Message ---
Date: Tue, 01 Dec 1998 11:49:08 -0500
From: Raymond Byrnes <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: copyright and Landsat images <fwd>
 
 
 
Mr. Winters:
 
The Landsat copyright issue is, indeed, somewhat confusing.
Beginning in 1972, the first five Landsats were launched by
NASA as ongoing research projects, while a growing number of users,
especially within the Federal government, came to use Landsat data in a
routine operational mode.
 
Until September of 1985, when Congress determined to see the program
commercialized, Landsat data were in the public domain, with no
restrictions on making copies.   At that time, EOSAT, later replaced
by Space Imaging Co. of Thornton, CO, was given exclusive rights to
market data from Landsats 4 and 5, both of which were operational (with
Landsats 1-3 retired from service).    Commercial rights on newly
acquired Thematic Mapper (TM) data are retained for ten years,
then the data return to the public domain.   So, Landsat TM data from
the late 1980's are now available from the USGS EROS Data Center at
the cost of fulfilling a user's request and with no copyright
restrictions.   As I recall, all Landsat multispectral scanner (MSS)
data rights were returned by EOSAT to the Federal government around
in 1992.  (The MSS was the original Landsat imaging instrument with a
90-meter ground resolution.)
 
Therefore, copyright restrictions are in place for TM data originally
purchased from EOSATor Space Imaging if the data are less than ten
years old.  Outside of that, as I recall, no restrictions apply.
To be safe, in case I have overlooked  any exceptions, you can contact
Tom Holm at the EROS Data Center (605-594-6960) or Space
Imaging (www.spaceimaging.com).
 
Landsat 7, to be launched by NASA in April of 1999, will mark a return
of the program to the Federal sector, with data once again available
at the cost of fulfilling orders and with no copyright restrictions.
 
Ray Byrnes
USGS Liaison
Land Satellite Programs
(703-648-4787)
 
>>> Johnnie Sutherland <[log in to unmask]> 11/30 5:05 PM >>>
--- Begin Forwarded Message ---
Date: Mon, 30 Nov 1998 14:07:25 -0600 (CST)
From: christopher  winters <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: copyright and Landsat images
 
 
 
Does anyone have any knowledge of the copyright issues surrounding
Landsat data? Landsat data are in some senses products of a U.S.
government agency hence ought to free of any kind of copyright
restrictions, but of course these data are quite expensive and the
agency involved has a peculiar legal status.
 
I am particularly interested in hearing about the legality of
allowing purchased Landsat data to be copied.
 
Thanks in advance for any comments.
 
Chris Winters
University of Chicago Library
[log in to unmask]
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