[sho_hn]

It strikes me as obvious that what Google should do is support OSM upstream and use OSM data in their product, just as what they do with Wikipedia.

[brewrwe]

Google feels it has a superior product, which is true for certain types of data in large cities. Why contribute to Wikipedia when your the publisher of Encyclopedia Britannica, you'd eat your own product alive for no notable benefit.

[rmc]

> use OSM data in their product

OSM has a share-alike clause, which would require G to share all their own data with everyone.