[OSM-talk] open data

[Andy Robinson]

Robert Hart
>Sent: 21 September 2006 12:08 PM
>To: talk at openstreetmap.org
>Subject: Re: [OSM-talk] open data
>
>
>
>> > Anyway, I believe that a change in license would be impossible without
>> > contacting every single contributor, so I assume this discussion is
>> rather
>> > pointless :o)
>> >
>
>However "impossible" a license change is now, it will be more impossible
>later. I know of at least one project (mozilla) that did go to the effort
>of
>contacting all code contributors (see
>http://www.mozilla.org/MPL/relicensing-faq.html)
>
>I do think a gradual change would be possible. Existing data would remain
>on
>the existing license until modified (where "modified" may simple be a
>declaration by the creator that it can be used under the new license).
>
>It is very clear from the discussion that we are a *long* way from any
>consensus on what we are trying to achieve. This is true from both the
>perspective of licensing, but also in terms of what map features are
>required, etc.
>
>Rob
>

We shouldn’t over extend the assumptions here. What we need to address now
is the licence issue with respect to the contribution and use of the data
OSM maintains.

The aims of the project are quite clear and I'll quote from the Foundation
objectives that:
"The OpenStreetMap Foundation is an international non-profit organisation
dedicated to encouraging the growth, development and distribution of free
geospatial data and to providing geospatial data for anybody to use and
share."
Which to me basically means that it's unlikely ever to enforce many rules or
standards on what the format of that data actually is beyond the
node/seg/way/area/tag receptacles. Thus I see Map Features or any other
categorisation or "standard" beyond the basic structure of the data as a
plug in feature to OSM rather than incorporated within it.

Cheers,

Andy


>
>
>This message has been scanned for viruses by MailControl -
>www.mailcontrol.com
>
>_______________________________________________
>talk mailing list
>talk at openstreetmap.org
>http://lists.openstreetmap.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/talk
>
>--
>No virus found in this incoming message.
>Checked by AVG Free Edition.
>Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.12.6/453 - Release Date: 20/09/2006
>

-- 
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.12.6/453 - Release Date: 20/09/2006