[Osmf-talk] on Google

[Chris Fleming]

On 19/07/2011 13:39, fh.sainct wrote:
>
>
> Jonathan Bennett:
>
> > On 19/07/2011 12:57, fh.sainct wrote:
> > > To me it is obvious that, if given the possibility, Google et al will
> > > definitely step in, whatever the cost --just to know OSM strategy, 
> and
> > > clearly with objectives that are not nice. To say the least.
> >
> > Then how do you explain Google's ?5000 donation to OSMF[1] with no
> > strings attached?
>
>
> Well, isn't it *exactly* what I described in the sentence you quote?
>
> To Google donating GBP5000 is nothing compared to the insight they gain.
> Now, as I said my text is probably too excited, and I won't come back 
> on this topic.
> But it'd be incredibly naive to believe Google donated just to be nice.
OSM as a community and the OSMF foundation work in the open anyway, 
minutes are published on an open wiki and mailing list archives are 
open, as a meetups and conferences. As far as I know the only exception 
is some legal advice. Openness is a fundamental and I can't see any 
advantage in keeping things secret.

Therefore by joining OSMF I don't believe that a company is going to 
gain any insights that they couldn't get from elsewhere.

Cheers
Chris

-- 
e: me at chrisfleming.org
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