Friday, February 29. 2008

MapStudio OS: Google Code to Manage MapGuide Open Source

MapStudio OS is a Google open source project (LGPL license) that does what MapGuide Studio (an Autodesk products does, roughly). I thought the OS tool for this was going to be Web Studio from DM Solutions.

via a comment at SlashGeo

REAL Files against Many Real Estate Groups for Patent Infringement

The new suit follow a suits filed against agent Diane Sarkisian for using map-based software for real estate searches that the patent owner, REAL, claims infringes. The suit filed yesterday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles by REAL is against:

• The National Association of Realtors (NAR), with approximately 1.3 million real estate broker and agent members nationwide;
• Nationwide real estate brokerage firms, including RE/MAX and Keller Williams Realty;
• Home builders, such as Pulte Homes and Ryland Group;
• The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB);
• Enterprise computer software providers to the real estate industry, including Fidelity National
• Real Estate Solutions, First American Corporation, and others;
• MOVE, Inc., the company that operates flagship real estate websites such as Realtor.com, MOVE.com, HomeBuilder.com, RentNet.com, and SeniorHousingNet.com; and
• More than 25 other defendants representing nationwide classes of claimed infringers: real estate brokers, agents, multiple listing services, new home builders, and rental property owners/managers.

REAL is putting together five class action suits to demand remediation for "direct infringement, contributory infringement, and inducement to infringe." REAL expects compensatory and triple damages.

Mark Tornetta who originated the patent, explains that he and REAL have tried to get organizations to license the patent with little luck. Now, he said, they can't wait any longer.

News on this story has always come from Inman.com (a real estate site, which I suspect has this behind its pay wall) and via Scott Tatro, an interested party who often passes along information. This story, a press release which I found at the American Homeowners Resource Center, is based on a material from Linden Alschuler & Kaplan, Inc., a Public Relations firm. That tells me the plaintiffs want to get the story out in a big way. Update: Scott Tatro sent me a copy of the release after I'd posted this.

- AHRC

Photo Location Tagger for Nokia Cell Phones

Nokia has announced a beta product, Location Tagger that uses internal or external GPS information to tag photos taken with some of its phone (Tested with: Nokia N95, N95 8GB, N82, E90, N73. Should work but not fully tested with: all Nokia devices based on S60 3rd edition).

via The Register

In These Times on "The New Cartographers"

In These TImes is "is dedicated to informing and analyzing popular movements for social, environmental and economic justice; to providing a forum for discussing the politics that shape our lives; and to producing a magazine that is read by the broadest and most diverse audience possible." Editor-at-Large Jessica Clark looks at the "maps are everywhere" phenomenon and highlights many sites you may already frequent and few that may be new to those very focused on practical apps.

Thursday, February 28. 2008

Garmin Sued Over Nuviphone Name

Overland Park, Kansas based Internet telephone provider Nuvio Corp. is doing the suing. It doesn't like Garmin using "Nuvi" in any of its device names. Nuvio wants payment for past infringement. No comment from Garmin.

- IntoMobile
AP story

Sun/MySQL Meet Mashups

Following the completion of the acquisition of MySQL by Sun Microsystems, the company has established a number of "Meet Mashups" around the world for users to learn what's next for the development of the open source database.