Channel NewsAsia - 1 hour 27 minutes ago

High Court hears appeal case between SLA, Virtual Map

SINGAPORE: The Singapore Land Authority (SLA) and Virtual Map were back in court on Tuesday for an appeal case over copyright infringements.

Virtual Map is the company behind the online website, streetdirectory.com, which allows web users to search for building locations or road maps.

SLA claims that maps on the website are based on the Authority’s original maps, which constitutes a violation of copyrights.

Last August, the court had ruled in favour of SLA, but Virtual Map filed an appeal.

Virtual Map had a licence agreement with SLA to use the online maps from 1999, but that was terminated in 2004.

Virtual Map’s lawyer, Mr Low Chai Chong, argued that the company had not infringed any SLA copyrights because Virtual Map had created independent maps using methods like satellite images and the global positioning system from 2004.

Since Virtual Map had created and improved the maps using its own technology, it should be entitled to keep, market and sell the maps. The company has offered to pay SLA royalties from the sales.

SLA disagreed and said it had deliberately put some non—existent buildings on their maps and those phantom features were also replicated on streetdirectory.com.

The Authority said this shows Virtual Map had reproduced SLA’s maps, and in so doing, Virtual Map had attempted to use SLA’s work without licence or consent.

That propelled Justice Tan Lee Meng, who is hearing the appeal, to suggest that perhaps Virtual Map had not done something new enough to cut off their apron strings from SLA.

Justice Tan gave his own example by saying that you can change the outfit on Mickey Mouse when you have the licence to use the image. But once your licence is expired or terminated, you cannot use that image anymore, even after you have revised it.

The hearing for this appeal case was originally scheduled for two days till Wednesday.

Virtual Map’s lawyer was supposed to have finished his arguments on Tuesday, leaving the Singapore Land Authority lawyer to make his case on Wednesday.

But Virtual Map’s lawyer did not manage to wrap up his arguments so the hearing is likely to go beyond the scheduled time frame.

Virtual Map charges companies that reproduce their online maps, and has even threatened to track down companies who use their maps without permission.

That prompted SLA to take action against Virtual Map, saying that the company itself is using SLA’s maps without consent. — CNA/so

Originally posted by SMRT Buses:

SLA disagreed and said it had deliberately put some non—existent buildings on their maps and those phantom features were also replicated on streetdirectory.com.

Cunning

well knowing how VM and streetdirectory sued some folks for using their map online.. its about time they got their backside burnt as well..

Channel NewsAsia - 1 hour 2 minutes ago

Virtual Map argues it created own framework for maps

SINGAPORE: Virtual Map, which operates streetdirectory.com, argued in court on Wednesday that it developed its own framework to create its maps, but the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) maintained that Virtual Map had copied those created by SLA.

Last August, the court had ruled in favour of SLA, prompting Virtual Map to file an appeal.

Virtual Map said it may have used the Singapore Land Authority’s maps but only for the purpose of driving around Singapore to collect its own data using global positioning system (GPS).

Using that data, Virtual Map said it then developed its own framework or backbone to create its maps.

To that, the Singapore Land Authority was quick to disagree. SLA’s lawyer, Dedar Singh Gill, noted that if Virtual Map did not copy SLA’s framework, Virtual Map would not have been able to produce the maps in the first place.

He also pointed to evidence which showed that Virtual Map had used its backbone to verify the roads already mapped out by SLA.

Mr Gill added that this is why all the phantom features planted on SLA’s map to catch copiers, also showed up on streetdirectory.com.

But Virtual Map’s lawyer, Low Chai Chong, insisted those were human errors. He reiterated that Virtual Map had gathered its own data to map out its online road networks.

Justice Tan Lee Meng, who is hearing the appeal, then responded to this, saying there is no dispute that Virtual Map had collected GPS data.

But he questioned whether the company had used it sufficiently or simply superimposed it on SLA’s maps.

The appeal hearing has been adjourned to a later date. — CNA/so

Channel NewsAsia - 1 hour 27 minutes ago

Appeal hearing for SLA—Virtual Map feud wraps up

SINGAPORE : The longstanding feud between the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) and Virtual Map, the people behind street.directory.com, wrapped up on Wednesday, the last day of hearing on whether the company’s online maps infringed SLA’s copyright.

SLA said the maps on Virtual Map’s website are based substantially on data from the authority, and Virtual Map had no right to do so after the license agreement was terminated in 2004.

SLA said this was a copyright infringement.

However, Virtual Map argued the maps were theirs — as they had spent millions to improve them, using GPS surveys and satellite photos.

SLA countered by saying if that were the case, Virtual Map’s maps should not have incorrect items like non—existent temples, which SLA had deliberately put in as a trap for copy cats.

A written judgement is expected in about a month’s time and this will mark the final chapter in a saga that started some five years ago when relations between Virtual Map and the SLA first started souring. — CNA/ms

i hope streetdirectory win.. its a good website.

Originally posted by BangHong:

i hope streetdirectory win.. its a good website.

totally agree with you, is a very useful online website

Well... like the news had said... if they had done the work... they would not have those misleading buildings that did not exist in the first place...

Channel NewsAsia - Wednesday, March 26

Virtual Map’s appeal against copyright infringement dismissed

SINGAPORE: The High Court dismissed Virtual Map’s appeal against the District Court’s decision that the company had infringed Singapore Land Authority’s (SLA) copyright in its street directory maps.

The High Court also upheld the injunction granted by District Court, prohibiting Virtual Map from reproducing SLA’s street directory maps and from distributing or selling reproductions of the maps.

The company was also ordered to compensate SLA and pay its legal costs.

Between 1999 and 2003, Virtual Map entered into non—exclusive licence agreements with SLA to use the Authority’s street directory maps and address point data to produce maps. These were then made available on Virtual Map’s website — www.streetdirectory.com.

SLA had to terminate the licences granted to Virtual Map in July 2004 when the latter asserted that its maps at www.streetdirectory.com were independently created and were not substantially reproduced from SLA’s maps and data.

However, Virtual Map had continued to use SLA’s maps and data, infringing the Authority’s copyright.

SLA then decided to take legal action against Virtual Map in October 2005 for copyright infringement.

In August 2007, the District Court decided in SLA’s favour and granted an injunction restraining Virtual Map from infringing SLA’s copyright.

In rejecting the appeal, Judge Tan Lee Meng gave a few reasons:
Firstly, "errors" that were placed in SLA’s maps to trap infringers, as well as genuine mistakes, were reproduced in Virtual Map’s copies.

Secondly, Virtual Map’s maps could hardly be called independent creations as the inexperience of its main map—makers showed up during cross—examination.

Thirdly, even though Virtual Map had improved and beautified the maps, the company was still heavily dependent on SLA’s core features.

With this verdict, Virtual Maps would have to remove the disputed maps from www.streetdirectory.com, implicating the organisations that have their maps linked to the website. — CNA/so

Channel NewsAsia - Tuesday, April 8

Streetdirectory.com will stay alive

SINGAPORE: They have it all mapped out.

At a meeting on Saturday after it lost its case in the High Court, shareholders of Virtual Map (VM) decided to continue running its website. They also decided not to refund the parties VM had fined for unauthorised use of its maps.

These decisions came after the company’s appeal against the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) over copyright infringement was thrown out last month.

VM managing director Firdhaus Akber said the website, streetdirectory.com, will be up and running again this week, but he declined to say exactly which day. And he would not comment on how exactly VM will go about putting the maps together without falling afoul of copyright infringement again.

At the meeting, two key topics were debated. There were the strength of public hostility towards the company VM had fined or threatened legal action at about 500 businesses and if the site is still a worthwhile investment.

Since it was taken offline last Wednesday, more than 2,000 users have appealed for it to be put back online, said Mr Firdhaus, who also said that "only a small minority hates the company".

"We understand it is painful for them," he said. "If there is anything we can do to lessen their pain, please inform them to contact us. But we will not refund any money as the monies have gone back into building better products and services and the running of the site."

So far, no one has demanded that VM refund the money it collected from its previous lawsuits, he added.

As to whether those parties are entitled to do so, copyright lawyer Siew Kum Hong said it was a "tricky" issue that is dependant on the terms of the settlement.

In cases such as these, the "alleged infringer" should have gotten a warranty agreement from VM that says it is authorised to grant a license to them to continue using the maps, said Mr Siew, who is also a Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP).

But he pointed out that now that VM has been found guilty of infringing the SLA’s maps, VM could be found to be in breach of that warranty because it did not have the right to grant the licence in the first place.

As for the possibility of the SLA going after the parties who have been using VM maps, the NMP said they can then turn to VM to compensate them or indemnify them.

"It is legitimate for these companies that were previously sued by VM to feel ripped off," said Mr Siew. "Even if the settlement agreement did not specify that VM is authorised to grant these licences of use, it is likely that this can be implied and if they wanted to, they could go after VM." — TODAY/so

Channel NewsAsia - 1 hour 45 minutes ago

Virtual Map’s legal woes benefitting similar service providers

SINGAPORE: Virtual Map said it will continue to run its website street directory.com sometime this week despite losing its case against the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) over copyright infringement recently.

But it did not give details how it will do so without running afoul again.

Meanwhile, the website’s legal woes have been a boon for others who provide online maps.

For 25—year—old Douglas Gan and his business partner, running an online map business just got better.

Operating from home, they said their venture is seeing benefits due to street directory.com’s legal problems.

Mr Gan, CEO & Founder of www.shownearby.com, said: "Their shut down has actually increased our traffic by about 500% everyday. So, just this month alone, we launched the site on 1 April and for this month we have about 7,000 over absolute unique visitors already."

Mr Gan and his business partner have spent about S$30,000 on their entire business so far.

They are hoping to generate revenue from business listings — basically companies that want to be featured prominently on the search engine aspect of their site.

The entrepreneurs are using Google maps without any copyright infringement and it’s free.

Google allows anyone to make use of their maps for free as long as they are not used directly to make money and instead used to enrich an online business.

Derek Callow, Marketing Manager of Google, said: "The relationships and the contracts we’ve got with our maps providers allow us to in turn make those maps and the Google Maps API available for individuals, businesses and associations to embed those maps into their website and the net result is actually making the internet experience so much better."

Other companies like V3 Teletech which powers websites like www.can.com.sg and uses maps from SLA, said their business has also gone up by about five per cent in the last six months.

Meanwhile, Virtual Map has said it will not refund companies which it fined for unauthorised use of its maps although Virtual Map itself was found to have infringed copyright law.

But those fined may have some recourse.

Philip Wong, Head of Civil & Commercial Litigation, Harry Elias Partnership, said: "These companies may argue that when it entered into a settlement with Virtual Map, it did not know that in fact Virtual Map did not own the copyright to these maps. So on that basis, they can argue that the settlement was entered into by a common mistake or a unilateral mistake and on that basis they might consider going after Virtual Map to recover the fines they’ve paid."

Virtual Map said it will take its case against SLA to the Court of Appeal on 10 April. — CNA/vm

but hor now cannot use streetdirectory.com le so sad though

Channel NewsAsia - 1 hour 59 minutes ago

High Court dismisses Virtual Map’s leave to appeal

SINGAPORE: The High Court on Monday rejected Virtual Map’s application to appeal against the latest ruling in the company’s ongoing copyright infringement case with the Singapore Land Authority (SLA).

In a private hearing on Monday morning, Justice Tan Lee Meng said he found there were insufficient grounds to grant leave to appeal.

Virtual Map, the company behind streetdirectory.com, has been involved in a long—standing feud with the SLA over the use of online maps.

Virtual Map now has seven days to take its case to the Court of Appeal, where it will again seek leave to appeal.

The company also intends to apply for a stay of execution, which will allow it to continue providing the disputed maps on streetdirectory.com until the case is fully resolved. — CNA/ac

hope the webby win, its been a very good service to most singaporeans! and its FOC. much better then you find books... Its so convinient.. damnit..

like they say, whats goes around comes around, if only VM showed a little more compassion to some of the small business who were using their directory basically just for the sake of letting others know where their company was located or how to get there..

its courting death. fighting against SLA.

Originally posted by 4getmenot:

like they say, whats goes around comes around, if only VM showed a little more compassion to some of the small business who were using their directory basically just for the sake of letting others know where their company was located or how to get there..

this was precisely it....if they hadn't gone round suing, sla might not have taken any action as reported.....i recalled reading how vm went for the throats against many..including some individuals who had posted small partial maps directing readers to their location, vm went all the way, extorting thousands...no negotiation....as much as i love streetdirectory.com , i can't help but feel vindicated for those whom they sued...ntuc was sued too for a hefty amount, but for that one i have no sympathies...lol

Originally posted by BangHong:

hope the webby win, its been a very good service to most singaporeans! and its FOC. much better then you find books... Its so convinient.. damnit..

Second that.

Still got driving direction some more. What can the hardcopy book do sia.

My nature of work requires me to travel around. Pretty much depend on that.

i think there’s one directory called mighty minds, spotted it at the petrol kiosk the other day, comes with cd rom too…anyone using it?

I don't pity Virtual Maps... So what if they are a good online map... They STEAL and use what they had stolen to sue us of innocently using their maps... our company was struggling when they sued us last time... we beg them but they were so merciless... so mercenary... THIS IS RETRIBUTION... They should face the music...

Now there are lots of GPS on mobile phones these days... if anything else, there's GOOGLE MAPS...

Why do you people support and pity such a CROOK...???

in a sense it's ironic that VM got sued while they were busy sueing others. poetic justice aside, it has served to encourage people to come up with alternatives and for people to actually consider using these other alternatives. personally, i don't think people really fancy using online street directories that are cluttered with irrelevant advertisements of florists. it was just that there wasn't much choice for the consumer. now there's choice.

personally, i like GoThere (http://gothere.sg) cos it fulfils my basic needs like public transport info and driving directions while offering many other frills such as searching for nearby food and wifi but that's just my personal choice. at least there's more to choose from at the moment i feel.

sla sux.

it's killin me.

so user-unfrdly, full of bugs & errors!