this post was submitted on 29 Jan 2026
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Slightly off topic, but do the large Map apps (Google, Apple, etc) donate to OpenStreetMap at all? I’m pretty sure they use their data, or at the very least check for updates to the open map. I’ve had it a couple times where I’ve updated the map, then a couple weeks later, it’s updated in Apple Maps and Google Maps. If that is the case then surely they can pay to support the service.
Google doesn't use osm officially. I don't know the status of Apple, while they may use some data from osm, their map is very different
There are big companies who use it (Microsoft, Meta, Amazon), and they donate money and manpower, they have employees actively working on osm.
You can see organised editing activities here: https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Organised_Editing/Activities This is where they should document how they contribute data.
Financial sponsors are listed on the webpage of the foundation: https://osmfoundation.org/wiki/Corporate_Members
About your perception of copying from osm: a lot of data on those maps are contributed by users, who may copy it from osm or may not. This problem is actually as old as mapmaking, the only way to prove they copy your map is to include "trap streets" and see if it shows up in other maps.
Apple maps used to use OSM for many parts of the world, and still uses it in some remote areas. They even have a team of employees being paid to edit/update it: https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Organised_Editing/Activities/Apple
@balsoft @infeeeee apple used to be corporate member of the osmf once