-------- Original Message --------
Subject:        Sharing Satellite Imagery?
Date:   Thu, 29 Mar 2007 14:31:15 -0400
From:   Carol McAuliffe <[log in to unmask]>
To:     <[log in to unmask]>



Dear MAPS-L,



I have a topic for discussion I would like to bring up about copyright
issues surrounding satellite imagery.



First a little background.  One constant question I am asking myself is,
what can we do to make our collection stronger, more relevant, more
useful to the researchers here at the University.  One resource that is
being used extensively by a variety of disciplines is satellite
imagery.  Many of the colloquiums and talks that I go to reference the
use of satellite imagery in their research in one form or another.  When
the researcher is questioned about where he gets the imagery they often
chuckle and talk about the what they went through getting it, whether it
was via his department, the country of which the imagery was taken, or
from their own pocket.  Only a few of the researchers here at UF know
about the fact that they can write a proposal requesting that the
library use funds to purchase satellite imagery for them.  We are fairly
selective and focus on our high interest areas and also give preference
to images that are adjacent to ones that we already have.  However,
given the cost of the imagery, it would be impossible for us to fill all
of the requests if this service was widely utilized even if image was in
one of our high interest areas.  The only solution seems it seems to me
is resource sharing through cooperative agreements with other libraries.



Here is the question I pose to the group, given that some of the
satellite imagery out there is not copyrighted (Landsat 7), is it
unethical or even illegal to share /complete/ copies of the data amongst
libraries to enhance their collections?  It seems to me that if it is
possible, this could be an excellent way for libraries to fill in gaps
in their collections.  Satellite imagery is so expensive we can only buy
a handful of images a year and overall that encompasses a VERY small
percentage of what is out there and what is actually needed by our
researchers.



Thoughts? Opinions?  I apologize if this has been discussed in detail in
the past. I did look in the archives to see what I could find but a lot
of it was very old information at this point.  In case it is helpful to
anyone, what I found from 1998 is in blue below.

Thanks to anyone who wants to offer their opinions on this topic!  I
will compile the responses if it is desired.



*Carol McAuliffe***,** Map Librarian
Map and Imagery Library, Spatial Information Services Unit
Government Documents Department
George A. Smathers Libraries
University of Florida
(352) 273-2828
[log in to unmask] <BLOCKED::mailto:[log in to unmask]>



--- Begin Forwarded Message ---

Date: Tue, 01 Dec 1998 11:49:08 -0500
From: Raymond Byrnes [log in to unmask] <mailto:[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]
<mailto:[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]

--- End Forwarded Message ---