[OSM-dev] Google Map Maker

[Frederik Ramm]

Hi,

    in Gemany we have been using the slogan "Wir spielen mit offenen  
Karten" for OSM. "Mit offenen Karten spielen" is a figure of speech  
that literally means "playing with open cards", meaning playing  
cards, i.e. "having nothing to hide". The German word for maps is the  
same as for cards, so the whole thing has a nice double meaning -  
"we're playing (around) with open maps".

Now that Google have unveiled their offer, which obviously must have  
been some time in the making, the words have even greater power: Us  
out in the open, honestly saying what we do and what we want, and  
them working for months behind closed doors on some secret project  
that is then one day presented to the gasping public.

It's a whole different culture really.

Other than that, I think it's a positive development because OSM will  
automatically get some of the publicity by means of contrast.

Bye
Frederik

-- 
Frederik Ramm  ##  eMail frederik at remote.org  ##  N49°00'09" E008°23'33"