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  "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  in the USA, it's US law that applies, whether the material is public domain in Russia or not.

Brendan Whyte