Is it possible for somebody to copyright a route on a map?
<p>The Tour de France makes it quite difficult to get good map data about their stages. They publish some low-res images (possibly for purchase by media, I'm unsure). There is no modern 'navigable' map, like Google Maps. </p>

<p>If I can see the route on the maps they've published, does making a new map displaying the route infringe a copyright? I understand the image of the maps themselves are copyright, but what about the route path on public roads? </p>

<p>In Australia, there is no copyright in data. </p>

<p><a href="http://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/sinodisp/au/cases/cth/HCA/2009/14.html" rel="nofollow">IceTV Pty Ltd v Nine Network Australia Pty Ltd [2009] HCA 14</a> concerned a defendant who copied TV guide data (what shows are on when) from newspapers/etc and re-published it on the Internet for its own profit. The plaintiff TV station was upset because they liked to sell this data. However, the plaintiff's copyright claim failed because copyright protects a particular expression, not information or data as such. There was no creative effort in the creation of the TV guide. It was just a list of facts.</p>

<p>Other jurisdictions may have protections for data e.g. EU Database Directive. I'm not familiar with those so I can't say whether they apply.</p>

<p>Another potential issue is any contract you entered into by visiting the Tour de France website which, without any need to rely on copyright, prohibits you from dealing in map route information. It would depend on the terms of service/etc and your jurisdiction's rules about the circumstances in which your courts will enforce that kind of thing (e.g. because it is excessive and unusual and was not brought to your attention).</p>

copyright