-------- Original Message -------- Subject: Maps-L - "The Mapping Mess: Google vs. British OS" Date: Tue, 18 Nov 2008 15:03:42 -0500 From: Russell Guy <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] Here is a bit of news from the UK about Google wanting free access to OS data - and OS's response. http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/technology/2008/11/the_mapping_mess_google_v_os.html The OS is supposed to be 100% self-funding and in theory receives no federal gov't funds, so unlike the USGS it is not supported by tax dollars. Currently income from the sales of paper maps is only about 10% of gross income, so license fees and digital data sales are the bulk of their income. Cheers Russell Guy ******************************************************************************* Russell Guy [log in to unmask] Omnimap.com http://www.omnimap.com/maps.htm International Map Specialists Tel.: 800-742-2677 (USA only) P.O. Box 2096 Tel.: 336-227-8300 (International) 1004 South Mebane St. Fax: 336-227-3748 Burlington, NC 27216-2096 USA Past President (1996), International Map Trade Association ********************************************************************************