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.Â
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.Â
The use of Soviet maps should be possible, however I think, under Â
"fair use" (for education).
I hope these helps.Â
Lucia Lovison-Golob
Geospatial Director of Afriterra Library, USA
On Fri, Jan 27, 2017 at 12:30 AM, Brendan Whyte
<[log in to unmask]
> wrote:
- The question is, why would Russian (or any other country's)Â
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 Â
in the USA, it's US law that applies, whether the material is public
domain in Russia or not.
- Brendan Whyte
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Russell
Guy
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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
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