As my own NY MTA/"MUNI-shirt" story has started to get publicity I am learning that I am not alone in the NY MTA's crosshairs. The most notable target is Connecticut-based blogger and iPhone app developer Chris Schoenfeld, proprietor of StationStops.com. Chris is also one smart, brave, and feisty guy, who is determined to defend his rights.
Chris developed StationStops for iPhone, which "allows riders of the Metro-North Railroad to check the timetable for regularly-scheduled trains." Unfortunately, Chris had to maintain the schedule data himself, and he decided to contact NY MTA and see if they could provide metro schedule data in a developer-friendly format.
Big mistake.
Responding to a copyright infringement claim by the MTA, Apple removed StationStops for iPhone from the Apple App Store. Then, the MTA hit Chris with a cease and desist, claiming that StationStops for iPhone "fringes on MTA’s statutory and common law intellectual property rights and is inaccurate, false, and misleading with respect to content pertaining to MTA and MN," amongst other claims. When Chris tried to work with the MTA, the MTA responded with more legal threats.
Big mistake.
Chris has decided to fight back, and fight back hard. He's enlisted the EFF for legal support, generated huge amounts of bad press for the MTA (including articles in the NY Post and NY Times), and even been interviewed by local TV news affiliates.
Good luck, Chris! I'm rooting for you.
Comments on “NY MTA Goes After Blogger/Developer, Gets More that it Bargained For”
StationStops said...
Thanks for the words of support Joe - its great to see you speaking out on your case.
As you mentioned, there are many of us who are suffering from the actions of MTA's licensing department.
But your case is extra-special. MTA's C&D against your T-Shirt was insane.
Yesterday, I presented my case in detail to over 20 students and professors of a local NYC law school's IP department.
When I told them about your case, they were speechless - they just could not believe what MTA did.
I support you 100% - you know my number - call me if you need ANYTHING.
Karen Cavanaugh said...
MTA why, why, why, oh why are you fighting someone who is promoting your product at no charge to you!
Station is a place for people on the run to check the MTA schedule on line in the beginning and then with the app for people who have Iphones (only).
MTA I am going to let you in on a secret. . . Stationstops.com does not give anyone a ride on the rails anywhere at anytime. It only helps people on the run.
You might realize that this generation does not deal with paper well. They check their phones for the time; take pictures with their phones etc.
And I might add that it is people 30 to 60 who are the users of Twitter, Facebook etc., so don't think the seniors are dinosaurs. We embrace technology as much as the tweens and the 20 somethings.
Aubrey Peterson said...
I am not going to be original this time, so all I am going to say that your blog rocks, sad that I don't have suck a writing skills