New York MTA Asserts Copyright Over Schedule

Presto Vivace writes "Greater Greater Washington reports that 'The New York Metropolitan Transit Authority's lawyers are going after a local blogger, and attempting to block an iPhone application showing Metro-North railroad schedules. The blog StationStops writes about Metro-North Commuter Railroad service north of New York City, and often criticizes its operations. Its creator, Chris Schoenfeld, also created an iPhone application to give Metro-North riders schedule information. Now the MTA is insisting he pay them to license the data, and at one point even accused the site of pretending to be an official MTA site.' I can't believe that this the MTA's actions are going to go over well with the public."

Re:words words

[Desler]

What? You expected that this the editor proofread the submission?

Huh?

[sheepweevil]

Oh no! Heaven forbid someone knows our train schedule so they can ride our trains! Wait...

MTA has a slam dunk case!

[Anonymous Coward]

Since they never run on time, the schedules are clearly a work of fiction and therefore covered under copyright laws as such!

Re:This is will never fly in the courts

[UncleFluffy]

There is significant precedent in copyright law that lists of facts or data cannot be copyrighted.

You're assuming that the schedule is a list of facts, as opposed to a work of fantasy. My experience with public transport in the US is that it's generally the latter.

Re:copyright length insanityKNOCK THEM OFF

[Nom du Keyboard]

This means that *NOTHING* created by artists, musicians, or *ANY* of the culture created today will move into the public domain in your lifetime (expected lifetime) unless the people or companies who control the rights let you have access to it through licensing or sales.

Time to start knocking off the creative element in our society so that we can get that 70 clock to start ticking.

Jeopardy

[HotNeedleOfInquiry]

I'll take copyright for $200, Alex. Copyright is defined as "The legal right granted to an author, composer, playwright, publisher, or distributor to exclusive publication, production, sale, or distribution of a literary, musical, dramatic, or artistic work" What is the MTA schedule? Sorry, that's incorrect.

Re:MTA has a slam dunk case!

[megamerican]

A good attorney could argue that it's a list of facts of times to not show up.

Re:This is will never fly in the courts

[richardkelleher]

They are afraid terrorists will get a hold of the schedule and to keep that from happening they are going to stealth the whole process. Buses and trains will now be randomized. Numbers and routes will change spontaneously. Sometimes trains will run on bus routes and buses on train routes. Every once in a while one (either a train or bus) will cross over to NJ, drive off in the pine barrens on its own and self destruct on the off chance it is carrying a terrorist. That will solve everything.

Workaround: don't precisely copy.

[smellsofbikes]

So what if he increments every time listed in the schedule by 1 minute? Then it bears little resemblance to the original text but is still useful. The added plus is that in order to show that his schedule is based on their schedule, they have to violate the DMCA.

Re:This is will never fly in the courts

[Anonymous Coward]

Don't they already do that?

Re:This is will never fly in the courts

[pdabbadabba]

So, business as usual then?

Re:This is will never fly in the courts

[Tired and Emotional]

I don't follow. Having the info available would increase ridership. How is that in the MTA's interest? Its going to make the trains run slower. How can you expect them to keep schedules if the blasted riders keep getting on and off.

Re:Disbarment

[WNight]

Funny, if you'd shot the lawyer he'd BE disbarred, the state would be paying to house you, and you'd probably still own your house.

Well, not funny.