Scanning paper charts?

PaulinVictoria · #1 05-31-2011

So, I have a nice set of CHS paper charts covering the area I sail in. I also have a copy of OpenCPN and the means to get raster scans into it in a usable way.
Are there any legalities in me scanning the paper charts I already own to be able to use them in this way? It's something that's bugged me for a while now, and I reckon I just need to find someone with a big flatbed scanner and then I've got a useful charting tool.

John East · #2 05-31-2011

Admiralty charts from the UK, Australian charts & NZ charts are all copyright & cannot be legally copied. I have no knowledge concerning American charts.
However, as a navigator, this not the main issue. The problem is, and will always remain, whether the charts are up to date and whether you are able to correct your charts when required. I have seen foul ground alterations, new wrecks, new wave buoys, changing navigation light sequences, new offshore oil wells, new exclusionzones; the list goes on.
You need to be very careful.

John
SV The Fox

KeithW · #3 05-31-2011

In the U.S., this is a mushy area in the copyright law, but the short answer is that if you use common sense this kind of "space shifting" is likely to be viewed as a "fair use." I would not go out and sell your collection of paper charts after scanning them in, or post your scans on the Internet. In any event, our government works, including nautical charts, are not copyrighted at all.

In Canada, the government does claim Crown copyright on your nautical charts. I can't speak to Canadian copyright law but still think it's doubtful Her Majesty will care that you scanned in your own paper charts.

Honestly, I would be more concerned about cartographic concerns than legal ones.

jackdale · #4 05-31-2011

Paul

The government does hold a copyright on the charts.

CHS - Copyright and Licensing

Also scanning the charts will not do you much good as the information related to lat and long, etc. will not be embedded.

i just bought the PAC 01 and PAC 02 so that I have the charts to get me around Vancouver Island. Each was $175. I also carry a collection paper charts.

PaulinVictoria · #5 05-31-2011

Ahh, you see you can actually scan charts and then get lat/long entered on them, I did it already by taking a photo of a chart (just to see the process), running a few utilities and loaded it into OpenCPN, problem is of course it's nowhere near as good as scanning it. I just object to paying for a scan of something I already paid for, have no intention whatsoever of selling, nor distributing in any way so I can't see an issue there.
Is easy enough to enter updates from the NOTAMs, I can just add them directly in the chart software.

jackdale · #6 05-31-2011

The CHS charts have a lots features not found on paper charts; photos and other information from sailing directions, etc.. OpenCPN is not using that data; other programs do.

While it would be nice to have free charts like our neighbours to the south, our government does copyright the materials.

The cost of a CD with, about 75 charts, is about what 9 charts would cost.

PaulinVictoria · #7 05-31-2011

Are you talking about the vector charts, I believe they run to about $600? My chart book has a lot of other information in it, and since that's what I actually use for navigation (don't have one of them fancy chartplotters onboard), that's fine, I have that information. I just want it on my laptop at home for browsing and some route planning. I object to paying over and over for the same information, paid tax to pay for the charts to be made, paid out of taxed income to buy a set of paper charts (plus tax of course) and now they want me to do the same thing again to get effectively a photo of them.
For the vector charts I can sort of understand it, there is more useful information in there, I think $600 is stupidly expensive however, it's the same data they use to create the paper charts, it's much cheaper and easier for them to update and reproduce but that's Government departments for you

SlowButSteady · #8 05-31-2011

You can download free raster copies of all NOAA (US) charts here.

jackdale · #9 05-31-2011

Paul

I am discussing raster charts which are much more than scanned charts.

The CHS vector charts are used with ECDIS systems which cost a small fortune.

jackdale · #10 05-31-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by SlowButSteady

You can download free raster copies of all NOAA (US) charts here.

NOAA charts showing Canadian waters are very small scale.