[OSM-talk] Let's talk Attribution

[Skyler Hawthorne]

As a new contributor, and a software engineer, it is surprising to learn that there is such a lax attitude towards lack of attribution. Every open source software license I can think of has attribution as a central tenet. People spend their free time on this stuff, and they do it because they care about it. There are people who get pretty upset when they find others using their hard work for their own gain without so much as a footnote (which is really all the guidelines appear to be asking for).

Attribution matters. It lets people know what the project is and that it positively impacted their lives. And equally importantly, it bestows a modicum of respect and gratitude to the volunteers who spend their free time making the project what it is.

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Skyler