Streetdirectory.com in trouble...

[Pinkowl]

Will the site be forced to shutdown?

 

Aug 8, 2007

Judge orders Virtual Map to end SLA copyright breach

By K.C. Vijayan, Law Correspondent

 

A DISTRICT court yesterday ruled that Virtual Map (Singapore)'s online maps on www.streetdirectory.com had breached the Singapore Land Authority's (SLA) copyright.

The judge also ordered the company to destroy or deliver up all infringing material.

 

In her 131-page reserved judgment, District Judge Thian Yee Sze also held that Virtual Map should stop 'dealing in maps which are reproductions of SLA's street directory vector data and address point vector data', among other things.

 

The judge further ordered an inquiry into the damages due to SLA.

 

Depending on what SLA wants, a court registrar could ask for an account of Virtual Map's profits.

 

Virtual Map (VM) is an online map firm which also develops and publishes location-based software and systems. There are hundreds of small and medium enterprises who pay a fee each time they reproduce maps from its website.

 

As publisher of the popular website www.streetdirectory. com, it was originally a licensee of the SLA for certain data - like street address points and directory points, which the SLA claimed copyright to.

 

But, although its licence from SLA was terminated in July 2004, VM's maps continued to appear on its websites.

 

SLA's position had been that VM no longer had the SLA's consent to reproduce the maps.

 

VM's case had been that its maps were not substantial reproductions of the SLA's works.

 

The company had also maintained that even if there were similarities, infringement did not happen because there was an implied term in its contract that allowed the company to keep and create maps even after the licence deal lapsed.

 

The company also argued that its maps from Aug 9, 2004, were created independently using other methods like the Global Positioning System points, satellite images and ground surveys.

 

District Judge Thian disagreed.

 

She said VM's improvement and 'beautification' of its online maps was 'no mean feat' but this was a separate issue from whether its online maps were the products 'of its own independent creation'.

 

The judge said that VM could not 'escape the truth' that its map-creating process was heavily dependent on SLA's data because SLA's information had provided the 'skeleton' for VM's online maps.

 

She also rejected VM's defence that SLA knew that it provided maps for a fee - and therefore SLA had implicitly approved.

 

Lawyers from Drew & Napier represented SLA, while VM was defended by counsel from Rodyk & Davidson.

[Nkps]

this one close down nevermind lah... has been stop using them ever since they start charging

[Typhoonz]

Like that also can ah?

[Penthousepauper]

gahmen money no enuf...... still want more.

[Nutty]

No problemo... we still have other map sites like www.can.com.sg

[Guyver]

I smell ... "wayang" ....

[Apollo]

buy "mighty mind" got CD copy of the map also. buy I using mapking 3D...

[Apollo]

FIX!!!

 

FIX!!!

 

FIX!!!

 

they probably wrongly fix the well connected person kena retrib*****.

[Sabian]

this one close down nevermind lah... has been stop using them ever since they start charging

 

they got charge? i been using them off and on but never kenna.

 

i tried the SLA's alternative...damn piss poor user interface.

[Comfy]

SLA cannot make it la... looking at the page, they understand me but i don't understand them... don't know what the designers are doing..

[Immortal]

woo its my frens cousin company, rich family

[Sosaria]

In my opinion, quite a shaky case. I mean, two maps of the same location would very likely turn out to be quite similar, right? Otherwise, people can conclude that at least one of the maps is inaccurate

[Kopi_peng]

think a fair loyalty fee shd solve the problem. those rd directory we get from bookshops & petrol stns also pay $$$ for reporduction/repackaging of the info wah!

[Higgsboson]

remember how VM take all the MNC and SME to court for copyright infrigement few years ago? each asking for 10k and above for the fees of using their map.

 

wondering while with this ruling between SLA and VM, can all the MNC and SME countersue VM back for all the fees paid? if there can be a class action suit, then that will the best liao!

[Achtung]

Was wondering if I can get my money back as they 'extorted' 17K from me.

[Apollo]

no nid to wonder becos they had exclusive license back then.. so every rights were reserved. every lefts also reserved.

[macrosszero]

Someone's going to have to pay the Pied Piper now.

 

Back then still so ya-ya to sue other companies for using their maps, now the shoe is on the other foot.

[Higgsboson]

apollo. may i ask what u meant by that? care to explain the rights thing?

 

i meant if it is a ruling now that they are screwed, wouldnt the judgement previously be a mistake and the affected MNC and SME can attempt to get back the 'extorted' sum?