Legal issues in the use of geospatial data and tools for agriculture and natural resource management: a primer

Abstract

This paper reviews concepts of intellectual Property and other legal issues relating to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) used in agriculture and natural resource management. Topics covered include copyright, patents, legal protection of databases, confidentiality of information, data privacy, licensing, and liability. The intent is to provide an introductory primer that can help guide day-to-day activities of people involved in agriculture and natural resource management research