[GSDI Legal Econ] Google and Microsoft Want Your Stuff

[Kate Lance]

All Points Blog, Tuesday, June 24. 2008:
http://apb.directionsmag.com/archives/4430-Google-and-Microsoft-Want-Your-Stuff.html
Google and Microsoft Want Your Stuff
Google's MapMaker is a tool for those with knowledge of specific countries to "fill in the gaps" where the company does not have data. Microsoft is asking localities to share their aerial imagery via GoVE.
The most interesting part of these invitations is the response from those in the geospatial community. (OpenGeoData on Google MapMaker [SteveC, http://www.opengeodata.org/?p=307], James Fee on Microsoft's GoVE, http://feeds.spatiallyadjusted.com/~r/SpatiallyAdjusted/~3/318539200/). The concern is about making the data as available as possible, which neither of these options really allow. Both initiatives put the data behind specific licensing arrangements that may make widespread and commercial use of the data impossible. Commentators suggest considering OpenStreetMap and OpenAerialMap (with or without using the Google and Microsoft options) to keep data more free and useable.


      
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