Comments on: Free Our Data http://heatherbrooke.org/2006/free-our-data/ Heather Brooke is an award-winning writer, journalist and activist Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:17:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: vaci http://heatherbrooke.org/2006/free-our-data/comment-page-1/#comment-894 vaci Mon, 20 Mar 2006 12:12:14 +0000 http://www.yrtk.org/2006/free-our-data/#comment-894 Google may have lots of money to spend, but the ultimate source of a great deal of their geospacial data is the US Government, who provide it for free. The OS is a government department with a monopoly on UK geospacial reference data. Like any monopoly, it stifles innovation through high prices, restrictive market practices and inefficiency. The OS retains its monopoly solely from the good grace of the UK taxpayer, so we should be entitled to reap the benefits which we have already paid for. Google may have lots of money to spend, but the ultimate source of a great deal of their geospacial data is the US Government, who provide it for free.

The OS is a government department with a monopoly on UK geospacial reference data. Like any monopoly, it stifles innovation through high prices, restrictive market practices and inefficiency. The OS retains its monopoly solely from the good grace of the UK taxpayer, so we should be entitled to reap the benefits which we have already paid for.

]]> By: Flotsam http://heatherbrooke.org/2006/free-our-data/comment-page-1/#comment-893 Flotsam Fri, 17 Mar 2006 00:58:36 +0000 http://www.yrtk.org/2006/free-our-data/#comment-893 There's a big difference between the OS and Google. The OS makes maps. The OS has a measly budget derived from sales of mapping info. Google is an advertising company. Google has squllions to give away on freebies that make it look good to the masses. Many people mistakenly repeat the Google mantra about not doing evil. The actual words Google use are "Don't be evil" which I see as an admonishment to their users rather than a coporate philosophy. They have latterly changed it to "You can make money without doing evil". I always mentally add "But it's much easier if..." There’s a big difference between the OS and Google.

The OS makes maps. The OS has a measly budget derived from sales of mapping info.

Google is an advertising company. Google has squllions to give away on freebies that make it look good to the masses.

Many people mistakenly repeat the Google mantra about not doing evil. The actual words Google use are “Don’t be evil” which I see as an admonishment to their users rather than a coporate philosophy. They have latterly changed it to “You can make money without doing evil”. I always mentally add “But it’s much easier if…”

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