[OSM-talk] RFC - OSM contributor mark

[Alex Barth]

Thanks again everyone for reviewing and weighing in. I'll try to summarize feedback here and identify adjustments and open decisions. I've added all I'm seeing actionable right now to the pull request on OSM.org [1]. I'm not aiming to close down the thread for good here, so please respond if I'm missing anything or if clarifications bring up additional suggestions. My next actions are to work with Saman (copied) on first adjustments based on feedback here.

While many suggested improvements, I am hearing general agreement to further pursue this proposal and work on implementing it. 

## Clarifications

My initial writeup could have been clearer: This RFC _does_ seek to replace the currently recommended line "(c) OpenStreetMap contributors" linking to http://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright with a visual mark linking to a future http://openstreetmap.org/contributors. Examples of the visual mark can be found on http://yhahn.github.com/byosm/examples.html and the suggested /contributors page can be found at http://yhahn.github.com/byosm. osm.org/copyright would be linked from osm.org/contributors in the future, more below.

This is intricately linked to the goal of this proposal being to better promote OSM's openness on any OSM based map by:

- making it more compelling to click through to OSM
- providing a real entry point to understanding and working with OSM on the destination page

## Hammer mark

This has probably been the most discussed issue :) There have been multiple voices expressing concern with the suggested hammer-in-teardrop mark. The main ones were:

1. It should have some textual component saying "OpenStreetMap" or "OSM"
2. It should be more prominent
3. It is not unique/compelling enough

Points 1 and 2 are easy adjustments, 3 is the tough one. I do sense we have agreement on a visual element instead of just a text line but we're not quite excited about the hammer. I'd love to follow up on this topic separately, rehashing how we got to the current mark and suggesting alternatives.

## Terminology: "Contributor mark" vs e. g. "Attribution mark"

Some have pointed out that 'attribution mark' might be a more accurate name. That might be, I don't want to change up at the moment but definitely a discussion to be had if ever we use this term more "officially" on openstreetmap.org.

## Legal requirement

As the page osm.org/contributors is to be the first one linked from a map it needs to fulfill legal requirements. I suggest we adjust the text on osm.org/contributors to explicitly reference ODbL and link to an updated openstreetmap.org/copyright.

https://github.com/openstreetmap/openstreetmap-website/pull/180#issuecomment-12293006

## Attributions

There are currently attributions to specific data sources on http://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright (Austria to United Kingdom). These need to be accomodated on `/contributors`. I see this as an opportunity to add an important facet to `/contributors`.

https://github.com/openstreetmap/openstreetmap-website/pull/180#issuecomment-12333486

## Refine message

There were suggestions to focus the message more on encouraging potential mappers. I think that's a good idea. One way of doing this could be to replace "Learn more about OSM" with "Get started editing". That would be ideal, there is obviously the problem of not really having a spot to link to to 'just get started mapping'. Another one is to just tweak the language we're using.

https://github.com/openstreetmap/openstreetmap-website/pull/180#issuecomment-12333756

## Design

There were comments on the design being heavy on pictures and not using the current OpenStreetMap.org template. I'm thinking these are good things. With adjustments, I'd love to keep it this way. The pictures help us communicate that OSM is created by many many, many individuals, the full screen page allows us to focus the message. And yes, there is scrolling before hitting the links. This is good as we'll want to have the space for a couple of points to get across before people jump off. It's not the case that we've got great introductory properties to link to right now :) In the future this could change: E. g. as soon as we have great introductory material we could link this more prominently "Get started mapping" above the fold. Or we could come up with a variation of the page that offers a link into an editor placing you right where you left the map.

That said, we should work on taking a stronger queue from the overall osm.org appearance to link this ad stronger to OpenStreetMap:

https://github.com/openstreetmap/openstreetmap-website/pull/180#issuecomment-12333532

[1] Related pull request on osm-website: https://github.com/openstreetmap/openstreetmap-website/pull/180

On Jan 11, 2013, at 9:26 AM, Alex Barth <alex at mapbox.com> wrote:

> Over here at MapBox we see a need to better communicate the open and contributory philosophy of OpenStreetMap on our maps. In striving to build a true data commons for contributing and distributing geographic knowledge, OpenStreetMap relies on map users being aware of the openness of its underlying data. At the same time there is room for improvement how we all (the OpenStreetMap community) attribute map data - the ever-expanding range of OSM based maps in the world are an incredible communication channel to talk to individuals who are potential contributors, and encourage them to choose open data or support the OpenStreetMap project in other ways.
> 
> ## Proposal
> 
> Inspired by successful campaigns like "Intel Inside" and "Fair Trade", this RFC proposes an OpenStreetMap contributor mark for use on OpenStreetMap based maps. The goal of the OSM contributor mark is to be adopted by as many OSM data users as possible and on as many OSM based maps as possible, thus creating more awareness of the value of free and open geographic data.
> 
> With these goals in mind
> 
> - the mark should be compelling and recognizable (i.e. not generic).
> - it should work off maps in cases where thumbnail maps need to be attributed e.g. in mobile devices
> - the mark should be clearly distinct from common map user interface elements.
> - the mark should link to a page on openstreetmap.org that explains the openness of OSM data and its local, community driven nature.
> 
> Based on this thinking, we have developed a mark that links to a corresponding page for OpenStreetMap.org. This work is captured in a pull request to openstreetmap.org, but you can review it on the demo instance I will walk through here.
> 
> Pull request: https://github.com/openstreetmap/openstreetmap-website/pull/180
> 
> ### Example usages
> 
> Here are some example maps using the OSM contributor mark:
> 
> http://yhahn.github.com/byosm/examples.html
> 
> (none of the organizations or individuals used on these examples have officially endorsed this proposal yet, including osm.org).
> 
> ### Linking back to OSM
> 
> The contributor mark on these maps link all back to the same page that should be ultimately hosted on `openstreetmap.org/contributors`:
> 
> http://yhahn.github.com/byosm/ (just a demo domain, this should live ideally on `openstreetmap.org/contributors`)
> 
> The osm.org/contributors communicates key OpenStreetMap features:
> 
> - Powering map data in hundreds of applications
> - Local knowledge
> - Community driven
> - Open data
> 
> A "learn more" button invites to explore more.
> 
> The main purpose of this page is to feature OpenStreetMap as a community powered project. Hence we worked with pictures of individuals where possible. *We are currently reaching out to photographers and individuals on pictures to get copyright permissions and model releases, if you're on one of these pictures or if you're the photographer of one of these pictures, please get in touch with me.*
> 
> ### Configurable tiles and wording
> 
> By modifying the URL to osm.org/contributors specific tile sets and map providers can be featured, like in this example of a link from a Stamen map:
> 
> http://yhahn.github.com/byosm/index.html?name=Stamen&image=tile.stamen.com/watercolor/10/164/396.jpg&vendor=Stamen&vendorURL=maps.stamen.com
> 
> ### Linking back to OSM based services
> 
> Organizations who provide OSM based services can choose to set a discreet link from the bottom of osm.org/contributors to their web sites:
> 
> http://yhahn.github.com/byosm/index.html?name=skobbler&image=http://tiles2.skobbler.net/osm_tiles2/11/511/806.png&vendor=skobbler&vendorURL=skobbler.us
> 
> http://yhahn.github.com/byosm/index.html?name=foursquare&image=https://dnv9my2eseobd.cloudfront.net/v3/foursquare.map-0y1jh28j/13/2342/3134.png&vendor=MapBox&vendorURL=mabox.com
> 
> ### Easy to configure
> 
> It's easy to create your own variation of the page by clicking on "add to your map" on the bottom of the page, check it out:
> 
> http://yhahn.github.com/byosm/
> 
> ## Next steps
> 
> I am pretty excited about this proposal, as it provides a better way to present the virtues of the OSM project. I'm looking forward to everyone's feedback and hope we have something we want to launch together. Please just respond here or grab me on IRC if you'd like to discuss. This campaign can only gain true momentum if we can get as many as possible to join in.
> 
> Roughly the next steps are:
> 
> - Feedback on this thread
> - Adjustments based on feedback
> - Ideally: launch on osm.org
> 
> A hat tip to Young Hahn who developed the concept and design for this proposal.
> 
> -- Alex
> 

Alex Barth
http://twitter.com/lxbarth
tel (+1) 202 250 3633