[Strategic] Fwd: Subject: Forks and such

[Jeroen Carelse]

On 30 aug 2010, at 21:26, TimSC wrote:

> I don't know if anyone else cares to wade into this discussion and say if forks could, in principle or in practice, provide value or are they always a waste of time? We (or I) probably could do with some perspective...

I could try to add some of this perspective, hopefully it makes sense but I am just a non technical user of the OSM data and have to deal very likely with different countries and laws and different kinds of legal entities. So my questions comments are pure based on practical worries and being not well informed about the intrinsic details of the different licenses.

1
whether I use database A, B or C, I as a service provider need to know what I can do, should do and am not allowed to do. Can I make a backup copy of the data for example? Can I copy the data and use this? Just a few basic questions... This needs to be written in layman wording first, then some technical jargon and legal explicit details later. I could help with the layman part as when I understand everybody will :-)

2
let's assume the future is uncertain. Would it make sense to list the various proposals and draft a maximum of 4 scenarios for each that explain the different viewpoints. The role of this strategic working group is to sort the weed from the chaff and present this in a clear manner, correct? We could evaluate the scenarios and give points to them if that would make sense. But in my opinion it won't add very much.

3
let's think about where we want to go to with OSM. The larger it gets the more complex and costly to manage I think. The more it is used and the higher the quality the more valuable OSM will become. There will be (are already) conflicting interests at play when I look at the heated discussions at the talk-osm list. Perhaps it is good to have a clear statement explaining where we come from, where we are now and where we want to be. People can then decide to hang on, take a db (simplifying it) and continue with a smaller group or whet ever.

Well, good luck with the above. My working day is over but I expect a lot of friendly emails tomorrow when I wake up ;-)

Jeroen
PS
there should be an introduction email on this list from me...


> 
> TimSC