Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Whose Map Is It?

Feeling the heat James?

Dear Norm,
I have in front of my a brochure from your organization (dated August 9, 2009) that uses our map prominently. While I certainly have no problem with you using the information on the map, I do have a problem with you using the map itself. Its colors, look and feel, are very much associated with the Center and therefore your use of it confuses the reader that we support the positions taken in the brochure. Accordingly, I must insist that you cease immediately distributing the brochure with our map image in any shape or form—equally please remove the map from your website.

I thank you in anticipation of your cooperation.
...............................................................................
James D. Merriman
Chief Executive Officer
NEW YORK CITY CHARTER SCHOOL CENTER
111 Broadway, Suite 604, New York, NY 10006
T: 212.437.8302 F: 212. 227.2763
It's about great public schools


3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Norm,

There is no copyright on that map! What colors are they talking about. Does the charter center own colors now.

You're not breaking any copyright laws.

I'd say James is feeling the heat. Change is in the air and James' gravy train is about to come to a screeching halt.

Don't let him scare you.

Sam Anderson said...

I went to the charter school website and did not find the map they are talikng about. I looked and looked for about five minutes for this map. I assume they must mean some printed material they have distributed. Big deal. Especially if they did not copywright the map's design.

Anyway, by you replicating the map, you are actually promoting them: helping more people find their precious charter schools!

Anonymous said...

Looks like the Charter Center is a bit scared now. The charter center has some nerve calling you out on copyrights. Norm you should look into the charter centers former mottos. You may discover that the charter center has broken their fair share of copyright laws. Shame shame charter center. We are onto you !