Angie:

Title 17 is the U.S. Copyright Law.  Title 17 , Section 105 indicates that the U.S. government does not claim copyright on items but the U.S. government is not precluded from having copyright assigned from another party.

My interpretation:
Joe MapMaker made a map on contract for NIMA.
Joe MapMaker assigned the copyright to NIMA/ U.S. government.
NIMA/U.S. Government placed the copyright statement on the item but followed it with a statement saying, essentially, "have at it". Everybody wins.

NIMA also freely distributes digital versions of these reference graphics on their  "What's Hot" section of the NGA site -  http://www.nga.mil

Ed





Ed Redmond
Geography & Map Reference Specialist
Geography and Map Division
Library of Congress
101 Independence Ave, SE
Washington, DC 20540-4650
(202) 707-8548
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>>> [log in to unmask] 05/19/06 1:25 PM >>>
Hi All,

Does anyone know whether a NIMA map that says "Copyright 2006 by the
United States Government. No copyright claimed under Title 17 U.S.C." is
actually protected by copyright??

Just sort of seems contradictory to me and I'm not sure whether it is or
isn't copyrighted. Maps in question are the Iraq city maps of Karkuk,
Baghdad and Mosul (2003 and 2006).

Thanks.

Angie

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Angie Cope
American Geographical Society Library
UW Milwaukee Libraries
2311 E. Hartford Avenue
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201

http://www.uwm.edu/Libraries/AGSL/index.html
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