[Osmf-talk] ArcGIS Online & OSM

[Richard Fairhurst]

Andrew Turner wrote:

> The current situation of showing a *User* that "You've been blocked,
> ask on IRC" is detrimental to the project. So a better arrangement and
> understanding needs to be conveyed. The wiki page on policy reads
> clearly, but never explains why the Unauthorised message would appear.
> Just hoping that with the many companies using the system there is
> expectation management all around.

The tile is there as a last resort. If the app provider follows the  
tile usage policy, it should never appear. It's there in case the app  
provider decides wilfully to ignore the policy, despite  
representations from OSM sysadmins - which has actually happened. In  
that case, our only route is via the end-users.

I believe there are also technological restrictions in place against  
abuse which are, for fairly obvious reasons, not documented. ;)

I agree that, on a broad level, OSM's communications with (and  
expectations of) the corporate world could perhaps be improved. It  
would be interesting to hear opinions on this, especially at the SOTM  
business day, and whether OSMF should take a lead.

cheers
Richard