[OSM-talk] Will Google ever use OSM data?

[Andy Robinson (blackadder-lists)]

Richard Fairhurst wrote:
>Sent: 06 November 2009 12:28 AM
>To: talk at openstreetmap.org
>Subject: Re: [OSM-talk] Will Google ever use OSM data?
>
>I'd seen a vague allusion to this but not actually heard the full
>response. Really interesting - Michael Jones of Google explaining why
>they don't use OSM data.
>
>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQXDAFJTH6w#t=1m47s
>
>To summarise: the only reason is that Google don't think our licensing
>works; they didn't actually want to launch a competitor; if OSM had
>"got its legal act in order" they wouldn't have launched Map Maker
>against us and would have used our data.
>
>Being generally more disposed to the little guy and pretty sceptical
>about Google in particular, I take all of this with a Siberian
>saltmine or two.
>
>But what I'm puzzled about is that he says Google were talking to OSM
>about licensing for a year. Presumably this was prior to the launch of
>Map Maker.
>
>Map Maker was launched in July 2008. I was on the OSMF Board from
>summer 2007 to summer 2008, partly as the "legal guy", so would expect
>that "year" and some part of my year to have coincided. But I don't
>recall any mention of discussions with Google, either within OSMF or
>among the wider community. (I may be forgetful, of course.)
>
>Basically, I have no idea what he's going on about.
>
>Can anyone enlighten me?

And as a Board member now and through this same period I too would like to
be enlightened. I've never been party top any discussions with Google at
that time or since.

Cheers

Andy