Two things about this particular case that at the very least complicate (if not invalidate) your point:
1. When you copy a map, you usually don't make a Xerox (i.e. take the map tiles from Google Maps) -- you trace over it or recreate the underlaying data. Thus you're not copying the representation of the map but the abstract collection of facts that were used to generate the creative picture.
2. Is there any creative work being done when you use automated cartography (i.e. a set of human beings aren't hand-drawing the map based on your data from #1)? In the case of automated cartography I can see the cartographic style data being copyrightable but I don't think the actual tiled image representation of the map data is copyrightable.
Of course, this is all (theoretically) a moot point because the Terms of Use prohibit automated use of Google Maps' data.
1. When you copy a map, you usually don't make a Xerox (i.e. take the map tiles from Google Maps) -- you trace over it or recreate the underlaying data. Thus you're not copying the representation of the map but the abstract collection of facts that were used to generate the creative picture.
2. Is there any creative work being done when you use automated cartography (i.e. a set of human beings aren't hand-drawing the map based on your data from #1)? In the case of automated cartography I can see the cartographic style data being copyrightable but I don't think the actual tiled image representation of the map data is copyrightable.
Of course, this is all (theoretically) a moot point because the Terms of Use prohibit automated use of Google Maps' data.