Posted on 09/30/2005 7:00:54 PM PDT by martin_fierro
By DAVID B. CARUSO
Associated Press Writer
The Associated Press
NEW YORK Sep 30, 2005 — It seemed like such a great idea: digitally shrink maps of major subway systems and put them online so people can download them to their iPods for free.
Tens of thousands of people have downloaded maps from http://www.ipodsubwaymaps.com since Web designer and blogger William Bright, 27, created it in early August.
San Francisco and New York City officials were less enthusiastic.
A lawyer for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority sent Bright a terse "cease and desist" letter in mid-September demanding he immediately remove the New York City subway map from his Web site.
Another letter followed on Sept. 21 from the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District, instructing Bright to take down his BART system map.
Both agencies said copyrights they held to the maps barred anyone from repackaging and redistributing them without permission.
Bright, who by day works for the online magazine Nerve.Com, quickly complied with both requests but said he was disappointed.
The only money Bright said he received for his efforts came from a few advertisements on his site, which he said generated about $1 most days.
"This was supposed to be for fun," explained Bright, who signs his blog postings Little Bill and also accepts donations via PayPal.
Bright said it had taken him just 20 minutes of tinkering to chop up an online version of the MTA's subway map and shrink it into parts that could be read more easily on the screen of newer iPod models.
Word about ipodsubwaymaps.com spread quickly after Bright launched it. Before long, 50,000 people had downloaded the New York subway map. The site offers maps for nearly two dozen subway systems including Berlin, Boston, Paris, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Tokyo and Washington D.C.
Might the MTA have overreacted and in doing so deprived commuters of something useful?
"That's the side that everybody loves to take, that big government is going after the little guy," bristled MTA spokesman Tom Kelly. "But that's not the case. This isn't us singling out one person and one entity."
William Bright displays his iPod with a subway map display outside the Prince Street subway station in New York Thursday, Sept. 29, 2005. Bright had downoadable subway maps on his website until he received a "cease and desist" letter from a lawyer for the Metropolitan Transit Authority. (AP Photo/Babeto Matthews)
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FWIW, BART makes freely available Palm/Pocket PC PDA maps for download.
How idiotic.
Keep the subway confusing to use for everyone.
Governments should not own copyrighted material like this - it was paid for by the public, and they should have access to it freely.
I wonder if federal tax dollars went towards these agencies.
I think those BART folks should stick to making those great Subway grinders and leave the poor iPod guy alone. Sheesh!
/ Friday night wacky mode OFF (maybe)
LOL!
Could've fooled me.... seems like that's exactly what this is!
Just another example of a private citizen being railroaded by big government. Ipod subway maps will become the new third rail of politics.
iPod... predecessor of the Star Trek Tri-corder...
"Ipod subway maps will become the new third rail of politics."
Only a real grilled-cheesy dude would believe that, Mr. Sandwich. There is no need for a downloadable map to navigate ANY grinder known to man, although sometimes we do forget on which side the knife and spoon go when setting the table for company. As for any grinder known to women, I am unqualified to speak...
These hams are full of baloney. We need to leaven the playing field before this mushrooms out of control. Besides, this is only a half-baked conspiracy. When this is sliced open, we will probably prove-a-lone instigator served this whole plate up.
"When this is sliced open, we will probably prove-a-lone instigator served this whole plate up."
You May-onnaise be right. Lettuce wait and see....
You two have trained eyes to track down this story. I send you this as a token of my appreciation.
Sometimes, it seems I have a one-track mind and the train's derailed. Bun nice to meat you, though. Anyone else have any rye observations? Or whole wheat?
Speaking of which...
A policeman arrives at the scene of an accident, in which a car smashed into a tree. The officer rushes over to the vehicle and asks the driver, "Are you seriously hurt?" "How do I know?" the driver responds. "I'm not a lawyer!"
"A policeman arrives at the scene of an accident, in which a car smashed into a tree...."
Telling CAR jokes is no way to Conduct yourself on a Subway diner train thread, Miss! Your pickles, please.
Supervisor: "Imagine you were sitting here alone and you learned there was a train coming from the North on that track, and another coming from the South on the same track. What would you do?"
Pete: "I'd throw this switch right here and put one train on the other track."
Supervisor: And what if that switch didn't work?"
Pete: "I'd go down to the track and throw that big switch lever there, putting one train on the other track."
Supervisor: "And what if that switch lever didn't work?"
Pete: "Then I'd come back here and call the dispatcher to stop both trains."
Supervisor: "And what if the phone didn't work?"
Pete: "Then I'd go to that gas station across the street and use their phone."
Supervisor: "And what if their phone didn't work?"
Pete: "Then I'd go get Uncle Joe."
Supervisor: "Uncle Joe??? What would he do?"
Pete: "Nothing, but he ain't never seen a train wreck."
Good one. You must be related to Henny Youngman.
People should buy cars rather than continuing to pumpernickels into those subway ticket machines.
LOL!! No, but I wish I could live as long as he did... by the way, did you know that Henny invited reporters to a restaurant to celebrate his 91st birthday, and to disclose his last will and testament...
"To my nephew Irving, who still keeps asking me to mention him in my will: 'Hello, Irving!'"
So funny. I remember Henny once said, a doctor gave a man six months to live. The man couldn't pay his bill, so he gave him another six months. Jeez, reminds me of being a kid and watching "The Ed Sullivan Show." Senor Wences, he was my man -- and he lived to be 104. Anyway, Victoria, I definitely want to see your act when you play the Palace.
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