Today's Guardian....

Grid lock

Although I'm undecided over the issue (Free our data, March 30), it is worth pointing out that Ordnance Survey, as well as holding and licensing UK mapping, also asserts ownership over the British national grid. As such, any use of grid references ought to be licensed by OS and should carry a statement of Crown copyright.

I'm unable to find OS's policy on this directly, although to my knowledge licenses are granted freely, provided an acknowledgement of OS's copyright is given. I am aware though that current case law supports this ownership, given in Ordnance Survey vs Younger and others (Ch 10 April 1995), in which Sir Jeremy Vinelott, sitting as a Judge of the High Court, ruled that "OS copyright material includes the National Grid" and that "the OS retain the right to refuse to allow ... [someone] ... to use the National Grid", a right taken up in that case.

The OS's zeal in protecting its intellectual property is widely acknowledged, but how far it extends to the countless books, websites and other materials which use grid references is unknown. Perhaps the fact that OS's ownership extends beyond data to the entire system of referencing which is so familiar may come as a shock.
Aled Greenhalgh
University of Newcastle

Does this mean that every time we quote an OS reference we have to put a little "c" (copyright) next to it?
Jim.