MIW sues Virtual Map-streetdirectory.com

[Apollo]

The roadmap to the courts

By Leong Wee Keat, TODAY | Posted: 24 November 2006 0734 hrs Photos 1 of 1

 

SINGAPORE: The Singapore Land Authority (SLA) has filed a civil suit against Virtual Map - the company behind streetdirectory.com - for copyright infringement.

 

The copyright material in question: Singapore's map data and street information, which the SLA had licensed to Virtual Map, but whose licence the authority terminated in July 2004.

 

The statutory board claimed that after the termination, Virtual Map continued to sell and distribute its maps. It also created new maps, which the SLA alleges are reproductions of the authority's works.

 

The SLA is seeking damages and an injunction to restrain Virtual Map from further infringement of the data.

 

It also wants Virtual Map to disclose the names and addresses of all persons or companies that it has distributed the maps to. Additionally, the SLA is also seeking an order to destroy all documents, materials or images in which copyright breaches have occurred.

 

The suit, filed in October last year, was confirmed on Thursday by an SLA spokesperson.

 

On Wednesday, the SLA launched a website that allows non-commercial users to download maps for free, presenting an alternative to the popular streetdirectory.com.

 

While non-corporate users can download maps from streetdirectory.com for free, Virtual Map imposes charges for commercial entities wanting to do the same. In the past two years, the company has brought suits against five companies here for copyright infringements, after they reproduced Virtual Map's location maps on their websites. All the suits were settled out of court.

 

When asked about the suit brought against it by the SLA, Virtual Map and its lawyer Low Chai Chong declined comment.

 

Under the seven licence agreements it had signed with SLA, Virtual Map claimed that the digitised data received was "raw" and bears "no substantial similarity" to the ones they later produced.

 

The defendant further argued that the maps it created were "original literary and artistic works" and were the product of their own "skill, effort and labour".

 

Virtual Map also argued that under the agreements, it was an implied term that the defendant would be allowed to keep any maps created, and to maintain, market, distribute and sell them. It added that there were also no "express terms" in the licence agreements requiring it to destroy maps that may have contained SLA's original data, upon termination of the agreements.

 

Both parties are set to appear before the Subordinate Courts on Jan 8. - TODAY

[Ultramega]

so who is the "MIW" in your title?

[Try_conti]

"In the past two years, the company has brought suits against five companies here ..." - I would say its a taste of their own medicine ??

 

Let's see how this play out in Jan8 ...

[Ultramega]

hey, btw, where u get that photo in your post? later they sue u for infringing their copyright! haha

 

well anyway, while we are at this topic, check out the new streedirectory service from SLA:

 

http://www.map.gov.sg/SD_LQ/INLIS_SD_EQUER...D&strproduct=SD

Edited November 24, 2006 by Ultramega

[Dermocyma]

Heaven got eyes... finally!

[Cheepo]

YES !!!

 

YES !!!

 

YES !!!

 

What goes around comes around. I know someone who was threatened by Streetdirectory because their webmaster (Foreign Talent) unknowingly copied their map.

 

Serves them right !!!! Hurray !!!!

[Pioneer]

yup.. i remember it was on tv... the poor beauty saloon boss kenna bullied by them..

 

hooray!

[Apollo]

 

 

[Acemundo]

this one very artificial or cha kong