The U.S. Gov't. is proposing to exempt satellite images from the Freedom
of Information Act (FOIA). The proposed exemption has already passed the
Senate and awaits House/Senate conference committee this month. Not only
does the exemption apply to Gov't. satellite images, but also any
commercial satellite images the gov't buys and 'any... other product
that is derived from such data.' That would include maps, reports, news
footage, etc. This would heavily impact news gathering and probably the
income of commercial satellite operators - who would only be able to
sell to the U.S. Govt.

- from Slashdot

http://www.defensetech.org/archives/001096.html
--
Zaax
http://www.ukgatsos.com

"zaax" wrote in message
...
The U.S. Gov't. is proposing to exempt satellite images from the
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The proposed exemption has already
passed the Senate and awaits House/Senate conference committee this
month. Not only does the exemption apply to Gov't. satellite images,
but also any commercial satellite images the gov't buys and 'any...
other product that is derived from such data.' That would include
maps, reports, news footage, etc. This would heavily impact news
gathering and probably the income of commercial satellite operators -
who would only be able to sell to the U.S. Govt.

... reading the linked Act (part of), it seems to be that they are trying
to protect either purely Commercial stuff, or possible Security-based
imagery. Bog-standard weather stuff *should* be OK (but then I was
always naive!)

Martin.