Here is a list of international copyright agreements between the US and other countries, current as of February 2017 https://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ38a.pdf It includes the Russian Federation. Russell At 08:07 AM 1/27/2017, you wrote: >Hi: > >Here my "two grains of salt." > >All the maps -- even the digitized  ones -- and >even if Russian are subject to Article 2 of the >Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary >and Artistic Works (that is also of maps and >atlases). I'm not sure if the Russian signed >them or not, BUT Russia signed the WIPO >convention  on the protection of IP (so even of >geographic maps and atlases, digitally considered databases). > >Furthermore, we have  to consider that the >fourth part of Civic code of Russia of January >1, 2008 on the protection of Intellectual >Property has also been recognized by the World >Intellectual Patent Organization (WIPO). This >convention was signed in 1967 also by Russia. > >As far as I know, Russian and Soviet geographic >maps, atlases, geographic services, even if >digital (in which case are considered >databases), in full or in part, exact or >counterfeit, are protected by the above mentioned laws, everywhere. > >The use of Soviet maps should be possible, >however I think, under  "fair use" (for education). > >I hope these helps. > >Lucia Lovison-Golob > >Geospatial Director of Afriterra Library, USA > >On Fri, Jan 27, 2017 at 12:30 AM, Brendan Whyte ><<mailto:[log in to unmask]>[log in to unmask]> wrote: > >The question is, why would Russian (or any other >country's) copyright law have any effect on >what you wanted to digitise or publish in the US? > > >Surely in the US you apply US copyright law, >irrespective of the copyright status of the work >in Russia or anywhere else. Only if you were >trying to market a book or other product *into* >Russia might you need to worry about Russian >law. But to scan and host the digitised >material  in the USA, it's US law that applies, >whether the material is public domain in Russia or not. > > >Brendan Whyte > > > ************************************************************************************** Russell Guy [log in to unmask] Omnimap http://www.omnimap.com P.O. Box 2096 Tel.: 336-227-8300 1004 South Mebane St. Fax: 336-227-3748 Burlington, NC 27216-2096 USA Past President (1996), International Map Industry Association **************************************************************************************