john_k - 2:37 pm on Aug 12, 2004 (gmt 0)

If it look like there's commercial motivation, and it smells like there's commercial motivation....... and there are ways of commercialising the data - then maybe its not really about saving the world......

I agree completely. At the very least, he will want this venture to raise enough money to pay for his own full-time job. Then there are a few administrators and IT folks that will need to be paid. So usage fees and/or government grants will follow.

If Google does, for some unfathomable reason, decide to grant his wish, then they should do so with some very tight strings attached. My suggestion would be that there is an annual license fee of a few hundred million dollars attached. As long as the project remains non-commercialized, and doesn't threaten Google's own commercial interests, then the fee is waived. When the project starts to get commercial aspirations, which it will, then G stops waiving the fee. One other thought is that the fees are "suspended" instead of waived with the provision that, should he ever sue Google to try and cut these strings, that the past fees are due immediately in full payment with interest.