By John Oates for The
Register.
This article has been reproduced with permission.
But that wasn't enough to stop London Underground's lawyers from
threatening Marshall when they realised his blog included a London
Underground map with station names replaced with anagrams.
The "craze" of re-mixing underground maps started on boing boing in early February and
would have stayed there except for over-active lawyers.
Marshall got a letter from London Underground solicitors Healeys
last week concerned about his use of the "roundel" (the Tube logo)
and maps. After talking to the lawyer he was told to remove the
offending graphics or they would get his ISP to pull the site
down.
The maps have been removed from Marshall's blog, which is
here, but are available
elsewhere after a cursory Google. Register Tower's nearest station
is Newt Arrester one for London mayor Ken Livingstone
surely...
London Underground sent us this statement:
“London Underground is the world’s oldest
and best known metro system.
“The present Tube map created by Harry Beck
in 1931 is a design classic and has been the inspiration for metro
maps throughout the world.
“Transport for London holds the copyright
for both the world famous Underground roundel and Tube map. We
strongly believe that we have a responsibility to protect the
Underground’s heritage and will take the appropriate measures to
protect its use.
“Permission must be sought and licensed by
TfL by anyone wishing to reproduce the Tube map or produce it in an
alternative format. Numerous requests are received every week
seeking permission to publish alternative versions of the Tube
map.
“We do allow some alternative versions to be
produced. The most recent was a musical Tube map which was produced
by The Guardian to chart the best of 20th Century music at the
beginning of February. Each Tube line was a musical genre and each
station was an artist.
"Where we come across examples of
unauthorised use of either the Tube map or the Underground roundel
we investigate. In the first instance we ask that the author
discontinues its use and where appropriate, legal action will be
undertaken.
"We are not just talking about one or two
alternative maps being produced each year but literally hundreds
and we cannot allow alternative versions to be produced unhindered
without some regulation.
"The Tube map relates to a working
Underground system and we have to consider the needs of residents
and visitors who use the network."
© The Register
2006
