Prompt Cast
The History of Copyright Traps and Fake Locations on Maps
TLDR Copyright traps, such as fake locations on maps, have been used for centuries to catch copycats and protect the work of creators. These fictional entries and streets have become famous examples of how copyright wars have evolved over time.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
This episode discusses copyright traps and how creators of maps and directories have found unique ways to protect their work.
01:40
The history of copyright wars stretches back three centuries and copyright traps are used to catch people who copy content.
02:58
The 1975 New Columbia Encyclopedia created a fictional entry for Lilian Mount Weasel, a photographer who died in an explosion, and this entry has become a famous example of a copyright trap.
04:19
Trap streets, also known as copyright traps, are fictional streets or locations used by map makers to check for map copying, and the state of Michigan even put fake towns in Ohio on their official highway road map.
05:34
Fake locations on maps, known as trap streets, have been used by map makers to catch copycats, and in some cases, these fictional places have become real.
07:06
Fake data can be used to embarrass copycats and is not protected by copyright law, and examples of fake data can be found in dictionaries, encyclopedias, books, and even paintings.
08:24
There is a fake person named Jacob Maria Mirscheid listed in the Bundestag directory with a detailed biography and a Twitter account.
