It is sad to see a company (Google) that is so pro-open source in many ways (WebM, sponsoring Mozilla, releasing a good open source, cross platform, feature rich web browser, the whole open web, etc.) and yet is so very closed when it comes to maps. Right now both Yahoo and Bing/Microsoft allow OSM contributors to trace from their aerial imagery. Google drove their own cars around the world and haven't opened that at all.

I think it's very bad that Google have created a product to compete with OSM but under a license which doesn't allow any reuse of the user generate data. I see absolutely no point in contributing to Map Maker whilst the data isn't open.

I find it hard to sympathize with the guy, he's complaining that Google make him use a self-service tool to upload his data. And that because he's helping Google they should help him more, open up their data, etc.

But in actuallity he's the one who wants to put the data into Google so his university will get more value from Google maps, it's not Google who's asking for his data.

Thats not really how people think about maps. A map is a bit like a dictionary or encyclopedia. It is supposed to be correct and complete. Where Mapping plays to google strenths (captial expenditure and algorithms) they do well. But thats not enough to make a great map. The current strategy is not yielding great maps and that is bad for users and google.