MFM and OpenStreetMap

[nyem]

Got a message from one OSM user.

Hi. I am not sure if you are familiar with MalsingMap, but I think you have an account with the MalsingMap forum.

Unfortunately, a user by the name of threshold has been entering a HUGE amount of data in Seberang Prai, Penang. I suspect that this data comes from MalsingMap. MalsingMap being copyrighted itself is not compatible with OSM.

I have contacted the user, but has yet to receive any reply. In the meantime, he continues to upload huge imports which I believe to be MalsingMap data. I have sent an email to the OSM Foundation in accordance with the right procedure.

Unfortunately, "threshold" is not to be found on MalsingMap forum. Could you please notify the MalsingMap website, authority or community that their data might have been incorporated into OSM?

Thank you very much for your help.

Regards,
khenthoth

My non-scientific checking of the data concludes that the data closely matches MFM data. I'm not sure if he/she has the clearance to do so from MFM or OSM. Hopefully that person can come out and sort this out with Antyong and khensthoth. khensthoth is mapping Penang for OSM.

Affected area:

osm-penang.gif

OSM map:

osm.gif

MFM over OSM:

osm-vs-mfm.gif

[antyong (retired)]

Thanks, Nyem.

I am not sure how we should proceed. The original data belongs to OngCC/Dynamix. MSM & Masmap stole it and declared it theirs. Now that someone is using this data to upload to OSM, I am not sure if OSM is interested in the MFM/MSM dispute.

I hope you can advise OSM admin to delete the data if there is no response from the person who uploads the data. We have no problem contributing data to OSM but some of our mapping practices may not be in line with OSM. I had already passed OSM data for Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang. However, I believe contributions should be done in a transparent way and not by somebody who stole data and credit from the original authors.

Appreciate your assistance on this matter. Thanks in advance.

[khensthoth]

Hi guys, I am the one who noticed the huge import of data in Penang.

Strangely, the user "threshold" seems to be only interested in what is opposite of the Penang Bridge, i.e. he doesn't touch anything on the Island.

I have already notified the OSM Foundation about the issue, following the proper procedures, and they will investigate it in their monthly meeting regarding this sort of things. In the mean time, the user continue to cause damage by his huge imports.

The main issue here I think is with the legality of the map. If the map is copyrighted in the first place, and/or the map is derived from a source which specifically prohibits this kind of copying (Google Earth/Map), then it is definitely not compatible with OSM.

Anyway, I hope this issue can be resolved soon, and happy mapping to both the MFM and OSM communities.

[antyong (retired)]

Hi guys, I am the one who noticed the huge import of data in Penang.

Strangely, the user "threshold" seems to be only interested in what is opposite of the Penang Bridge, i.e. he doesn't touch anything on the Island.

I have already notified the OSM Foundation about the issue, following the proper procedures, and they will investigate it in their monthly meeting regarding this sort of things. In the mean time, the user continue to cause damage by his huge imports.

The main issue here I think is with the legality of the map. If the map is copyrighted in the first place, and/or the map is derived from a source which specifically prohibits this kind of copying (Google Earth/Map), then it is definitely not compatible with OSM.

Anyway, I hope this issue can be resolved soon, and happy mapping to both the MFM and OSM communities.

Thanks for bring this issue to MFM's attention

"threshold" probably lives in Seberang Perai and I have a feeling that "threshold" will load more data if there is no question about the data source. If the data is indeed from MFM then it will not be compatible with OSM because we use several sources for our map data including GE images.