Wading in (though for the purposes of a putative OSMF response, we can just leave this whole argument to one side and focus on the data)...
2010/1/18 Andy Allan <[email protected]> > I didn't say I wanted a monopoly. I'd rather either > a) the government (i.e. the OS now, and doubly so if they stop trying > to cover costs and just take subsidies instead) didn't produce printed > maps at all > b) or if the OS is going to produce finished maps, they spin out the > cartographers and printing presses into a commercial organisation and > let it sink or swim without government subsidy in competition with the > like of, well, everyone else. > I think approach (b) is about right, although there are a lot of public bodies using the raster maps too. Presumably we'd then have to suggest that they just pick any product on the open market for their own use, and perhaps that in certain circumstances where uniformity across local authorities is important there would be a centrally procured contract with a particular company or a standard "stylesheet". I find it a bit odd to attack somebody as a socialist whilst advocating a free-of-charge state-run enterprise! The only part of the OS that is incredibly hard to replicate commercially, and that would suffer if commercial forces led its specification, is the data collection, maintenance and provision. Best, Tom -- http://tom.acrewoods.net http://twitter.com/tom_chance
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