[okfn-discuss] More on Google Maps

William Waites ww at styx.org
Fri Apr 22 17:00:14 UTC 2011


(not sure why this didn't go through to the list the first time,
didn't even bounce, perhaps it will pass this time)

I'm not sure I follow this line of thinking. You seem to be saying
that it's acceptable for the OKF to use proprietary software and data
for expediency's sake and that if anyone wants to replace it with a
free / open version they are welcome to. If I haven't misunderstood,
this is a very troubling attitude for an organisation like OKF to
take.

(And not in my original message)

I also don't understand why you didn't just use the open stuff in the
first place. It's not harder to use than google maps and you're a
skilled Javascript coder, it should have made no difference to you.
Instead, you use the proprietary version and invite others to redo
the work. This makes no sense to me.

Hoping I've got the wrong end of the stick and you'll correct me.

-w

* [2011-04-22 15:06:58 +0100] Rufus Pollock <rufus.pollock at okfn.org> écrit:

] On 22 April 2011 14:57, Jo Walsh <metazool at gmail.com> wrote:
] > See this post by Mikel Maron "we need to stop Google's exploitation of open
] > communities": http://brainoff.com/weblog/2011/04/11/1635
] >
] > Important point here that Google are co-opting the methods and language of
] > open data movement and making the results proprietary.
] >
] > Given you subscribe to this list, you probably wouldnt dream of using
] > non-commercial licensed, heavily usage restricted proprietary data or
] > software in your applications. But with Google Maps that is just what we are
] > doing.
] >
] > Arguably OpenStreetmap is the big success story of open data and in many
] > areas much higher quality...
] 
] I'm very strongly in agreement on all of this.
] 
] All I was doing (I coded the stuff!) was putting out a "half-finished"
] hack to invite discussion about the Dashboard idea and with a release
] early, release often attitude.
] 
] If you (or someone else) could help fix the js so we use OpenLayers
] and OSM we can have the google map and its proprietary data removed in
] no-time ...
] 
] Rufus
] 
] _______________________________________________
] okfn-discuss mailing list
] okfn-discuss at lists.okfn.org
] http://lists.okfn.org/mailman/listinfo/okfn-discuss

-- 
William Waites                <mailto:ww at styx.org>
http://river.styx.org/ww/        <sip:ww at styx.org>
F4B3 39BF E775 CF42 0BAB  3DF0 BE40 A6DF B06F FD45




More information about the okfn-discuss mailing list