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The Database Should Be Free
Article by: Darren Griffin
Date: 18 Mar 2011
 I saw a post on TechRadar UK blog today which discussed a particular bug-bear of ours so squarely on the nose that I felt compelled to post here.
Rarely does a day pass without an email from someone deriding us for charging for the speed camera database. Always along the lines of "you get the data for free from users so why are you charging for it, it should be free". Even those who thieve our database from pirate sites use this argument as a justification for their actions.
Some of you, unfamiliar with our history and the detail of what we do, will see the "it should be free" argument as a valid point. But even if the database was simply a regurgitated list of locations (which it isn't) then we would still have a right to charge for hosting and serving it.
But the fact is that we don't just sit here collecting your submissions and stuffing them into a spreadsheet. The true value is in the accuracy of the database, the fact that data is verified, corrected, compiled into an ever growing list of formats and published.
There are any number of free options out there, and all are riddled with errors, old cameras, duplicates etc etc. If you don't want to pay, then they are there for the taking. But they are free with good reason.
And what about all the data that is 'given' to us by our members? When we moved from free to charging some years back, we rewarded every member who had ever contributed data, be that one location or one hundred locations, with a lifetime membership. And we continue to reward those who contribute, with lifetime subscriptions for data that is accepted into the database.
We think that the way we operate is the best possible system. It rewards those who contribute and charges those who are happy just to have the data and use the service.
The original blog post can be read here. I urge you to read it.
| Comments
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 Posted by Xman on Fri Mar 18, 2011 1:42 pm |
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Amen!
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| Posted by Privateer on Fri Mar 18, 2011 2:22 pm |
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Robert.
iPhone 6s Plus, iOS 14.0.1: iOS CamerAlert v2.0.7
TomTom GO Mobile iOS 2.3.1; TomTom (UK & ROI and Europe) iOS apps v1.29
Garmin Camper 770 LMT-D |
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| Posted by Guivre46 on Fri Mar 18, 2011 7:30 pm |
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Precisely. This is a satnav community with linked commercial activities, it at least needs advertising to fund its existence. Commercially there are a number of safety camera databases which charge for their data. PGPSW has made a commercial decision to charge for very accurate information at a rate that compares very favourably with the competition. Some members happily provide information without any financial return , but we all benefit from the funding of the Forum and the excellent staff who look after it.
Mike R [aka Wyvern46]
Go 530T - unsupported
Go550 Live [not renewed]
Kia In-dash Tomtom |
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| Posted by lenfish on Fri Mar 18, 2011 9:21 pm |
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Dom,
I'm afraid your idea concerning the cheese is full of holes. 
I suspect the people who expect "something for nothing" are the very same who wouldn't ever do anything for free in their own lives. Amazing how many people still don't live in the real world.
Regards,
Len (yet another "Grumpy Old Man")
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| Posted by Andy_P on Fri Mar 18, 2011 9:57 pm |
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Hey, PGPSW boss man... That "Work for Free" sign you've got looks just what I need.
Can you post it to me ASAP? (pref. first class, I'm a busy man).
"Settling in nicely" ;-) |
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| Posted by Darren on Fri Mar 18, 2011 10:04 pm |
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| Andy_P Wrote: | Hey, PGPSW boss man... That "Work for Free" sign you've got looks just what I need.
Can you post it to me ASAP? (pref. first class, I'm a busy man). |
As I knocked it up in Photoshop and so own the rights I'd be happy to. But first I will need a signed purchase order from you or cash up front
Darren Griffin |
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| Posted by 253 on Fri Mar 18, 2011 10:08 pm |
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I'm afraid the posts and 'reasoning' you get to see are just symptomatic of the freeloading society we have in the UK - and elsewhere.
Everyone seems to think they know their "rites" but none of them know their responsibilities, and don't even consider they have any.
Everythng is always some one elses responsibility. "Not my fault mate".
Easy for me to say, but ignore them, or better still, why not post a database to the pirate sites riddled with false and misleading data, and attribute it to some of the whingers.
Bob
Triumph Tbird 1700. And now a Bonnie T100. |
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| Posted by M8TJT on Fri Mar 18, 2011 11:20 pm |
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| 253 Wrote: | | why not post a database to the pirate sites riddled with false and misleading data, and attribute it to some of the whingers. |
Because the other whingers would say tat our data was cr4p 
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| Posted by Guivre46 on Fri Mar 18, 2011 11:23 pm |
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How much will you give me to post a reply to this?
Mike R [aka Wyvern46]
Go 530T - unsupported
Go550 Live [not renewed]
Kia In-dash Tomtom |
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| Posted by M8TJT on Fri Mar 18, 2011 11:32 pm |
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OOOOh. YES. Please do it for free
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