Hi,

My first post here.

I wonder if anybody would be able to clarify a UK copyright issue for me please?


I'm working on a guide book (self published, not as a professional) in which I'd like to include small sections of vintage street maps relevant to locations.

I have two atlases I'd like to use, each published in the 1960s. Each atlas has a note in the front stating the maps are "based on" Ordnance Survey maps. To request use of the maps I've contacted the company who currently hold the rights to this series of books, but with no response.

So bearing in mind the Ordnance Survey aspect, here's my question:

In the UK Ordnance Survey maps (being Crown Copyright) go out of copyright 50 years after publication and become free for anyone to use as they see fit.

So if someone 50+ years ago published a map "based on" (and with permission of the Ordnance Survey), would the Crown Copyright rule applicable to Ordnance Survey maps remain in place for those maps?

Or (assuming they made changes to the data) would the maps come under new copyright ownership for those publishing it?

Thank you in advance for anyone who can help enlighten me in any way.