[schmidtc]

I've been thinking about open sourcing my source code as well. I've been trying to monetize a new mapping technique and I think there just isn't demand for it. So now I'm leaning toward open sourcing the mapping tech and trying to build a business the uses the maps to solve part of a larger problem (like real estate search, or business relocation).

My biggest fear would be one of the big mapping companies picking it up and taking credit for it. Though I'm sure this is unfounded and even if it happens at least people get to use it.

[bitonomics]

There is certainly a market for mapping data. I think the big part is being able to layer the data in a constructive way and having access to said data is probably the hard part.

But you have companies like Esri who make $1B/year on maps and yet most people have no idea who they are. (www.esri.com)

[krrishd]

Just curious, couldn't you open source it but have a license that doesn't allow commercial usage of it?