alt Hacker NewsThey're used by map makers to prevent other map makers from freeriding on the original work. They're less worried about personal copies and much more interested in deterring commercial reuse.
They're used by map makers to prevent other map makers from freeriding on the original work. They're less worried about personal copies and much more interested in deterring commercial reuse.
That doesn't answer my questions although I now realize I made a bad assumption. This is a modern technique. I misread the bit about Greece on the wikipedia article and somehow got it in my head that it was more ancient.
So I think to answer my question more directly, yes, it's just copyright laws.
My point, before understanding that, was that from the map consumer's perspective it doesnt make a difference. And from the original creator's perspective it has a little accuracy cost. So without an additional mechanism I didn't see the disincentive for copiers. So I wondered if it was some ancient form of copyright law or just strong sense of morals or what.