On 07/07/2000, Gabe Wachob <gwachob[_at_]wachob.com> wrote:
>
> On Thu, Jul 06, 2000, Liane Lucietta <lrlucietta[_at_]hotmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > And, I've heard that mapmakers frequently place one bogus feature or
> > location on their maps just to catch infringers.
>
> I've worked with people who've worked in electronic map companies,
> and I assure you, *every* street map of any significant size has
> "traps" in it. Map people will tell you all sorts of amusing
> stories about the creativity put into these traps.
>
> And, these traps are apparently kept very secret -- because if a
> copier could discover them, they would simply be able to remove
> these traps from a unauthorized copy of the map and the potential
> infringer would basically be able to get away scot-free (assuming
> no other proof of copying).
That raises an interesting question: if the only way that you know someone copied "your" map is by the copying of an intentional error, is there really any copyrightable material there besides the error?
Kevin Grierson
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