The suit was made public back in March but seems to have just hit the media today. The story, as told on the geocoder.ca website:
Since 2004 we have crowdsourced* the generation of the "Canadian Postal Code Geocoded Database." When you make a query to geocoder containing for example this information "1435 Prince of Wales, Ottawa, ON K2C 1N5", we then extract the postal code "K2C 1N5" and insert it into the database that you may download for free on this website.
This allows you to look up a postal code (eg K2C 1N5) on www.geocoder.ca, or www.openstreetmap.org or a number of other sites that use geocoder.ca data and technology.
Since we do not have a postal code dataset from the authority on postal code assignments, namely "Canada Post", we derive and guess this information sometimes with pretty good accuracy results.
Now "Canada Post" has sued "Geocoder.ca" in Federal Court, asking "Geocoder.ca" to take this database down from this website, and also to "pay Canada Post" damages on lost business the later has suffered by not selling enough copies of their own postal code file (last time I checked at $5,000CAD a piece).
A defense fund has been set up and already has several hundred dollars. The Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic (CIPPIC) is representing geocoder.ca in federal court.
- geocoder.ca via @openstreetmap
by Adena Schutzberg on 04/12 at 10:05 AM |
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The map of the 70 days it will take for the Olympic Flame to travel from Lands End to London is now detailed in a map (Microsoft). Eight thousand people will carry it and it will travel within 10 miles of 95% of residents of the UK. It will also travel by other means.
- London2012 Torch Relay
You might have heard the chuckling around Valentine's Day, which is also close to National Condom Week on the calendar about a new effort to have couples check in when having safe relations. The coveage I saw didn't highlight the main message of the backers, Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest: safe relations. The map is out and show 8,000 checkins. Some 60,000 QR coded condoms were distributed to entice visitors to the site to checkin, but anyone visiting the website can checkin.
Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest has combined the use of new social media technology with their National Condom Week campaign to promote safe sex practices, specifically among young adults and college students. PPGNW launched WhereDidYouWearIt.com and released 60,000 QR-coded condoms in Idaho, Alaska and Washington that send smartphone users to the site.
- The Ithican
Poynt Corporation, in partnership with GasBuddy, has launched its gas search feature on the Poynt mobile local search and advertising platform for users in Canada.
- TechFinance.ca
by Adena Schutzberg on 03/20 at 03:18 AM |
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Among the new data accessible through OpenDataPhilly: bike racks, census data, buildings on the Registry of Historic Places, impervious surfaces, and schools.
- Technically Philly
The Honourable Tony Clement, President of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for FedNor [regional development org in Ontario, Canada], chaired today the first meeting of an advisory panel of leading experts to provide the Government with advice and guidance on its Open Government activities.
Among the members: Alex Miller, President and Founder, ESRI Canada, Alex Howard of O'Reilly, and Vivek Kundra of Salesforce.com.'
- press release
GCN looks at the state of geoportal.gov and how EPA, NOAA and USDA are planning to use it.
- GCN
by Adena Schutzberg on 03/01 at 03:00 AM |
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A new map pinpoints well-defined areas of the Eastern United States where humans have the highest risk of contracting Lyme disease, one of the most rapidly emerging infectious diseases in North America, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. researchers found high infection risk confined mainly to the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Upper Midwest and low risk in the South. The results were published in the February issue of the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.
- press release
How do you figure out where to off teen health services in Gaston, North Carolina?
To decide where the satellite services were needed, officials used county GIS mapping data to see where teenage clients live. An emphasis was placed on pinpointing teens classified as being “at-risk” for not getting the services they need, [ the health department’s medical director, Velma] Taormina said.
“Gastonia had the most teens, but there were also hot spots around the county,” she said. “To address that, we chose to expand our clinical services for teens to those Bessemer City and Cherryville locations. Teens there may have transportation issues with getting to Gastonia.”
- Gaston Gazette
Billed as the first official British Columbia government mobile application, the BC Health Services Locator launched Monday on Apple's iTunes app store.
- Vancouver Sun
by Adena Schutzberg on 02/07 at 05:45 AM |
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The number one request for the Cape Cod Canal Chamber of Commerce? Printed maps. So, instead of a guidebook the Chamber will print free maps, with ads on the back.
- Wareham Week
The Canadian Institute of Planners reminds you:
With less than a week to go before nominations close, there are a few cities that have not yet fielded a candidate for the Great Places in Canada contest.
- press release
Abbotford, BC has had downloadable GIS data for several years, but it's IE only. HTML source code reads: "Webmapping Utility For A City Map For Abbotsford British Columbia Canada By Intergraph" and includes a reference to CGM.
I'm not sure why the paper noted it this week; maybe because now it's free. A shoutout to Ralph G. who lives up there!
- AP
- Abby News
by Adena Schutzberg on 01/26 at 04:28 AM |
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