by RedLantern
I have a fairy extensive collection of milepost track charts that I've acquired from buying CDs full of them at shows as well as various websites. Does anybody know the copyright details on historic charts, like if they're considered public record by the FRA or if they would fall under the company that currently owns the lines or something like that? These are digital copies of photocopies of blueprints, I don't have any of the original prints.
The reason I ask is because I would love to create a website and put up these charts, I'm also working on creating detailed milepost listings based off the data on the charts, and I want to make sure that data isn't already copyrighted. I see there's plenty of people selling copies of the charts, advertising all over the web as well as railroad enthusiast and model magazines but I've always wondered if they actually have the right to sell them or if they had to pay royalties.
The reason I ask is because I would love to create a website and put up these charts, I'm also working on creating detailed milepost listings based off the data on the charts, and I want to make sure that data isn't already copyrighted. I see there's plenty of people selling copies of the charts, advertising all over the web as well as railroad enthusiast and model magazines but I've always wondered if they actually have the right to sell them or if they had to pay royalties.
Trains aren't dangerous, it's lack of common sense that's dangerous.