4 ms·
They could have easily offered a free license to use the trademark. This project wasn't harming them in the slightest. Demanding the map's removal and implying
by rossng 2y ago
They could have easily offered a free license to use the trademark. This project wasn't harming them in the slightest. Demanding the map's removal and implying that he will have to pay to put it back up shows a lack of empathy.
- crazygringo 2y agoNo, trademarks are genuinely important because they allow consumers to distinguish between official things that an organization stands behind, versus hobbyist projects, imitators, etc. But all the creator had to do was to remove logos and possibly change the name so there would be no confusion around whether this was an official project or not. And it seems like the geographic map was fine, only the schematic map would have been an issue because its design is presumably specifically copyrighted and yes you would have to license that just like any other map. The letters he received may have been heavy-handed but there's nothing wrong with the general principle of it.
- anigbrowl 2y agoThe point is that trademark holders could start by reaching out and asking nicely instead of being assholes about it.
- lexicality 2y agoTo be fair, they did start by reaching out and asking nicely. They just immediately escalated.
- mr_toad 2y agoThe TfL trademarks are all over Apple Maps. The map itself would be covered by copyright, not trademark. It would seem that nobody bothered to run the notice past a lawyer.
- Mindwipe 2y agoApple applied to use them via the official TFL scheme for doing so, in advance, and is likely paying for them.