[OSM-talk] Ed Parsons Blog
Nick Hill
nick at nickhill.co.uk
Fri May 12 23:14:34 BST 2006
It would be only marginally helpful to have OS contributing basic data
to the dataset because as the number of contributors keeps growing, from
an overall project perspective, it falls out from being key.
And I think the discussion and the direction Ed is coming from is
missing the most vital ingredient.
Ed is talking about copyright free, and is talking about the effect the
Linux kernel had. He is both wrong and looking in the wrong place.
Firstly, the open geodata is not copyright free, and IMO this is a good
measure. For Ed to say it is copyright free is showing some lack of
understanding. In a world with copyrights, free data ironically needs
the protection of copyrights.
I will digress for a moment, but taking the Linux kernel as the turning
point in the free software system is missing the point and IMO is
incorrect. The then crude Linux kernel happened to be workable at the
time the GNU system was at completion. GNU HURD was further from
completion. The relatively crude Linux kernel was licensed to be
compatible with the GNU system which happened to fill the jigsaw at the
right time. That is focusing on the part of the free software system
which has had the most publicity, but perhaps isn't particularly key.
The GNU system is and has always been much bigger in terms of the amount
of code, effort, and license lead. The linux kernel is a very small part
of the free software stack and it gets disproportionate publicity
compared to other parts. Ignoring the 95% and focusing on the 5% which
happens to be called Linux.
The key in the development of the free software is IMO the GNU general
public license. The document, the law, written into copyright which
makes equitable collaboration work better. Underpinning this is the
concept and philosophy of copyleft. All this helped by the development
of the internet.
I can't see an email address on ed's blog. Perhaps he will read this.
The biggest challenges to face OSM are to encourage and co-ordinate
system and software development. Keep the systems able to serve demand.
Bring in sufficient funding along the way. Establish a consensus on a
specific geodata license. Foster understanding of how the free/open
collaborative system works. (Ed doesn't yet know)
Any OS data would in the overall scheme of things be fairly unimportant
compared to our scope to harness the effort of those who can contribute
to development of the dataset. Growth rate should follow a steep upward
line. Actual growth a fairly steep curve dependent on certain limiting
factors.
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