[robertlagrant]

I don't think it reduces the value of data. It might reduce the acquisition cost, but not the value.

[cinntaile]

If the acquisition cost is lower, the value will be lower because you don't need to factor in the acquisition cost.

[Xylakant]

No, the value is what you can do with it. Now, if you want to sell the data, then having a competitor that offers it for free is reducing the value, but if you want to use the data, the value is independent of the cost.

[erikrothoff]

Yes, and if the data isn’t secret the number of things you can do with this data is limited. It’s like security by obscurity in reverse.