Streetdirectory.com website down
Argh. Haven't been able to search for location of places at Streetdirectory.com since last Wednesday, 02nd April, 2008 due to some copyright infringement lawsuit case. So dependent on www.streetdirectory.com, it's frustrating not being able to access this super-useful website.
Got to use Singapore Land Authority's website instead for the time being.
Monday, 07th April 2008 TODAY
Streetdirectory.com will stay alive By : Jinny Koh and Sheralyn Tay
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."
- /so
TODAY
Thursday, 03rd April, 2008
Popular online map website down for days after losing appeal
By Asha Popatlal, Channel NewsAsia
The commonly used online map website , run by Virtual Map , has been down for the past few days.
This development came about just after Virtual Map lost its appeal against the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) over a long-standing copyright feud over online maps last week.
A spokesman for Virtual Map told Channel NewsAsia that shareholders will be meeting in a few days to decide on the long-term direction of .
Channel NewsAsia understands that one of the options may include removing Singapore maps from its website, which currently provides maps of Malaysia and Indonesia as well.
But for now, Virtual Map hopes to bring the site back up shortly, with new maps that the company has been working on.
The company also plans to submit an application to the Court of Appeal in a final attempt to reverse the latest court decision. - CNA/ac
Got to use Singapore Land Authority's website instead for the time being.
Monday, 07th April 2008 TODAY
Streetdirectory.com will stay alive By : Jinny Koh and Sheralyn Tay
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."
- /so
TODAY
Thursday, 03rd April, 2008
Popular online map website down for days after losing appeal
By Asha Popatlal, Channel NewsAsia
The commonly used online map website , run by Virtual Map , has been down for the past few days.
This development came about just after Virtual Map lost its appeal against the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) over a long-standing copyright feud over online maps last week.
A spokesman for Virtual Map told Channel NewsAsia that shareholders will be meeting in a few days to decide on the long-term direction of .
Channel NewsAsia understands that one of the options may include removing Singapore maps from its website, which currently provides maps of Malaysia and Indonesia as well.
But for now, Virtual Map hopes to bring the site back up shortly, with new maps that the company has been working on.
The company also plans to submit an application to the Court of Appeal in a final attempt to reverse the latest court decision. - CNA/ac
posted by Mockingbird at
9:39 AM
5 Comments:
I'm looking for a bus map. Which one should I buy? Mighty mind?
Do recommend me.
To Starscream: Might Minds' bus map is about the only bus map available if i'm not wrong. If it's a bus guide you want, you should get it from any SMRT station. It's cheaper than Mighty Minds' bus guide :)
Well I need to so that I can plan and learn about the bus route and other road in Singapore at home.
Hi Mockingbird,
This is Melvin from 20twenty. We're Virtual Map's PR agency and we've been reading your posts regarding streetdirectory.com.
On behalf of the guys at VM, thanks for your interest in the website and how it's fairing.
We've been receiving a lot of comments about how the loss of the site has inconvenienced people, so we've decided to come back online with most of our features like the popular bus/mrt guides. Unfortunately, the maps will have to wait, but hopefully this will relief your inconvenience somewhat.
So we're hoping to engage opinion leaders like you to spread this news. Every now and then, we'll keep you updated on the situation and once we make a breakthrough, you'll be the first to know.
For a start, we put out a media release yesterday that I'd like to share with you. Let me know if you're interested and I'll send it over. Feel free to email or call me.
Thanks!!
Warmest Regards,
Melvin Tang
Associate
20twenty public relations
melvin@20twentypr.com
43 Mosque St #02-01 . Empire Lofts . Singapore 059521
O +65 6536 6921 . F +65 6220 6639
To Melvin: You guys have been doing a great job all these years. It would be absolutely tragic to see the map-displaying feature of your website being terminated. Hope you guys can get it reinstated soon. Do keep me posted of your latest media releases in your quest to get the super-useful feature of your website up and running again.
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