[OSM-legal-talk] [OSM-talk] ODbL vs CC-by-SA pros and cons

[Maarten Deen]

Rob Myers wrote:
> On 08/29/2010 08:21 AM, Maarten Deen wrote:
>  >
>> So you're supposed to ask permission to use the data
>> with the current license, and with any possible imaginable other
>> license, as noone will be able to predict how OSM will look like in 10
>> years.
> 
> It's because no-one can predict how the environment in which OSM exists 
> will look in 10 years.
> 
> The longest running free software and free culture projects have had to 
> change their licences to reflect the changing environment in which they 
> exist. OSM will be no different.

I am not saying OSM may not or can not change its license. I'm merely pointing 
out that it is impossible to ask from a contributor to accept the current 
license *and every imaginable other license* because we don't know how the 
license will change in the future.

That, basically, is the same as asking to sign a blank sheet of paper.

Maarten