[OSM-talk] generic websites for brands and website tags

[Niels Elgaard Larsen]

Stephan Knauss:
> Hello,
> 
> a while ago it was discouraged to add a website= tag to all features of brands like 
> Starbucks or McDonald's which is pointing to the brand webpage. Instead it was 
> encouraged to link to the specific website of the outlet mapped.
> 
> What is the current status on the community on this?


I agree with the above.

> The wiki (english) of McDonald's states still the above.
> https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Tag:name%3DMcDonald%27s
> 
> On Starbucks a mapper recently reverted that statement and actively encourages to 
> link to the brand website.
> https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/POI:Starbucks
> 
> The page for website key is a bit unclear, just mentioning "official website for the 
> related features", which could be interpreted in both ways.
> 
> https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Key:website

It does mention Key:brand:website
https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Key%3Abrand%3Awebsite

> So what is the common practice, and expectation so see in the website tag?

The website of the specific amenity.

I do sometimes make an exception for very small brands. I.e. restaurants that have 
two or three locations. Or restaurants that have a separate place only open in the 
summer. But that is because the brand website usually then have a listing of phone 
numbers, addresses, opening hours, menus etc for all locations.

-- 
Niels Elgaard Larsen