Comment by InsideOutSanta
5 hours ago
Neither Google Maps nor Gmail are given away for free. Both products generate vast amounts of revenue.
5 hours ago
Neither Google Maps nor Gmail are given away for free. Both products generate vast amounts of revenue.
It doesn't even matter that it generates revenue, they could "give it away for free" and yet earn vast amounts of money with it just fine - but they never gave it away to anyone! They just let you use it "for free" right now, but could change their mind at a whim and stop, or even ban you specifically because they just feel like it. They're the only owners of data you contribute and it's not being given away, but strictly guarded.
Compare with OSM, which actually is being "given away for free" even though people still do monetize it. They just do it on the same terms as anyone else could.