[OSM-legal-talk] Rules for the foundation to hold data assigned to it under

[Richard Fairhurst]

80n wrote:

> The point is that TIGER does not have a community caring for it.   
> OSM *is* a community that cares for its data.

I was a bit perplexed by this point at SOTM and I'm still a bit  
perplexed (admittedly, I am easily perplexed).

There's no community creating free geodata in the States because  
there's no need for one. TIGER is complete, free, and regularly  
updated. By the same token, OSM wouldn't exist in this form if OS  
Mastermap was free for download.

There is, however, a very active US community doing things with  
geodata - think geowanking, WhereCamp, Burning Man. Were TIGER  
published in a slightly saner format (as, in fact, it's starting to  
be) I'm sure that an American Etienne would have written Tigerender.

But licences don't really come into it, as far as I can see.

cheers
Richard