OS Licensing
Promap and the Ordnance Survey work together to ensure that mapping is protected under Crown copyright by virtue of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. Copying of mapping can be authorised under different copyright licences depending upon the intended use.
Benefits of Licensed Data
It is a legal requirement to have a current licence for use of Ordnance Survey Data. By ensuring that the mapping you use is properly licensed you can take advantage of the following benefits:
You have the reassurance that you are using location-based information from a recognized partner of Ordnance Survey.
Being legitimately licensed supports your reputation in the marketplace.
Mapping can be supplied in a wide variety of formats suited to your specific needs.
All Planning Applications now have to feature mapping at defined scales and from a reliable source.
Not sure if you have the right licence?
Not hvaing the right licence can have several implications, inlcuding:
Possibly invalidate your indemnity insurance and result in costly legal fees.
May result in planning application delays or rejection.
Data licence options
There are two main licence options to choose from when exporting MasterMap data from Promap. You can either purchase a IBU licence or PDB licence, the differences between the licences are outlined on this page.
Plan Design Build
This is a licence to provide exports of Ordnance Survey data for use in conjunction with specific project-based activities and offers a choice of licence periods. The key provisions of the PDB Licence are as follows:
Use within your business for project specific work to include data sharing with project managers and other users involved in the project (including contractors subject to a contractor licence)
Choice of licence periods – 12, 18, 24 or 30 months
Use of data on multiple terminals (up to 40 terminals)
Right to archive one paper or electronic copy for a period of 13 years after the licence has expired
Unlimited production of paper copies from the licensed data for use within the project
Production of reports for project client (providing they do not carry advertising)
Please note this licence does not permit:
The display of data on or via the Internet
The rights to commercially exploit the underlying OS data in any way
The aggregation of a total area of greater than 6km˛ for a single project
Internal Business Use Licence
The Internal Business Licence is for businesses who to wish to use Ordnance Survey data as a tool to support their day to day administration and operations. They key provisions of the IBU Licence are as follows:
Use within your business as a tool to support your day-to-day administration and operations
Limited rights to share data with other users (subject to additional licensing requirements)
Limited rights granted to use the Ordnance Survey data for promotional purposes
Licence is valid for 12 months only (from date of licensing)
The production of reports for clients is allowed
Please note that this licence does not permit:
Any rights to use the data for any other purpose after one year unless licence is renewed at end of the licence period
Rights to archive data beyond the term of the licence
Rights to commercially exploit the underlying OS data in any way
Unlimited production of paper copies from data during licence period
The use of Ordnance Survey trademarks
Paper Map Copying Licence
This Licence enables businesses to make unlimited copies of mapping in paper or electronic form (NB not including vector data Exports i.e. OS Detail Mapping taken as a DWG, DXF or GML File; these files are covered separately under the PDB and IBU licences detailed above). It is purchased on a per office basis and covers all copying of OS maps by that office respective of the number of copies.
By purchasing a PMCL it will allow you to:
Copy unlimited amounts of original Ordnance Survey mapping to support your day-to-day administration and operations
Make copies of mapping in either paper or electronic form (although further rules apply to making electronic copies – please see the licence text for further details)
Include copies of mapping in leaflets, brochures and display on web pages, subject to the rules set out in the licence
Use copies of mapping as part of a professional service, subject to the rules set out in the licence
Copy all Ordnance Survey mapping in all offices where that business operates, subject to the applicable fee payable for the number of offices
Copy mapping based on Ordnance Survey mapping produced by another publisher, subject to obtaining permission to copy the mapping involved directly from that publisher
Purchase a Paper Map Copying Licence >>
Licence Management
Promap offers you the ability to manage your licenses online. When you purchase your mapping online from Promap the licence management facility retains information about the licence you have purchased which you can access at any time. The system warns you when licenses are out of licence and provides you with the option to renew or dismiss.
The licence management system also highlights to the system administrator where others within your organisation may have already licensed the same site area of data you require.
