Hey Simon,

first of all, thanks for writing a whole post just because I didn’t understand your answer :) Your distinction in goals – opening data and creating data – is indeed interesting.

In your last paragraph you write: “Hopping off the soap box, I believe it is now understandable why complete alignment of goals cannot be expected. For “joe open data” google is a just as valid member of the open data community as OSM.”

Well, I don’t know, if this is truly the case. If it’s valid, that’s tragic, because the free use of Google Maps is the free as in beer – and not as in freedom. IMHO both, Open Data Movement and OSM, should be strategic partners in the case of a CC-alternative to commercial options like Google Maps. Isn’t OSM more powerful when it’s used by more and a wider range of people? Even though the goals are not a perfect fit?

Best, Katha