Thursday, February 28, 2013
Gamer Faces $50K Fine For Mapping A Train Station
Popular Science: If you give a gaming community the tools to create a custom level, or "map," you'll end up with lots of fun stuff. Some people will even recreate real-life places, which is what Diego Liatis and friends did with Montreal's Berri-UQAM metro station. But the Société de transport de Montreal is worried the level will cause panic among straphangers presumably because it gives would-be evil-doers a handy guide to the underground system. The agency is now threatening a lawsuit if the custom level gets released.
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5 comments:
This is a really interesting issue that we, in the arts, have the potential to face every day. Does it fall under the jurisdiction of copyright infringement if a scene designer were to use a real place in a design? Say an exact replica of a well-known city skyline were to be used, or the facade of an actual restaurant. Would it be copyright to put it on stage?
As far as the concern that a terrorist might be able to use the game map to plan an attack, it is a real concern in this day and age. A lot of the comments on the article at the host site were saying that if terrorists wanted to learn about the layout of the metro station, they could just go there and ride the trains around. What the commenters failed to point out was that someone might notice a person riding around on a train all day for days on end learning the layout of the station. If they were able to get their hands on a virtual layout of the station, it would be a lot easier to memorize it and develop an attack in private.
This is definitely an issue worth considering, especially for people involved in the arts. The other day in Basic PTM, we were discussing copyright in regards to sound design. I had never really thought about the copyright of certain tunes, such as "Happy Birthday," and found it really interesting to hear how sound designers need to consciously make sure they aren't infringing on a copyright. In this article, I can definitely see the concerns of the metro station, since in our society today, violence is so heavily seen throughout the world. Even if a terrorist can go to the station themselves to observe the mapping of the station, violent video games such as these (as well as television and movies and perhaps even theatre) can have the power to plant ideas in the wrong people's minds. I see how this is a problem with this game in particular since it gives the exact layout of the station, but I think the issue goes beyond this game and is something we should consider with violence in entertainment in general. How far is too far?
I feel like lots of video games use real places. Even if its not exact. There are so many games that you see the Eiffel tower, the white house, the Hollywood hills, etc. Are you going to sue all of them?
Also, the creator of the game went to the station and rode around all day and did not raise suspicions. If he could do it, so could a terrorist potentially... I feel like by doing anything they are going to freak more people out.
I could see them suing because of the nature of the game. I wouldn't want my metro station to be a level on a shooting game. Its bad for their image.
I would have to agree with the gaming company on both of these particular issues. First with the issue of mapping the train station out and inserting the level into the game. I do not see the map adding into the plans of terrorist any more then the fact the station is open to the public every day. I would also disagree with the possibility that the map would cause panic.
But more importantly I think are the issues of legal right to re-use the design of public spaces. I do not know of anyone or company ever sued for showing the Hollywood sign but it probably has happened. So lets just hope this lawsuit does not succeed if the gaming company is actually sued and this does not set a precedent for future lawsuits.
I think this lawsuit and article present an intriguing argument. However, I find myself having a similar opinion to the gaming company. Many games include areas or buildings that are distinct and recognizable as real places. I can understand that since this video game has recreated a game map that shows the entirety of the metro station, someone could potentially use this to memorize the station and plan a terrorist attack. However, I think that if someone is going so far as to plan and go through with a terrorist attack, they will find a way to learn the inside of a metro station by any means. Concern for terrorist attacks is valid enough, and concern for copyright infringement is equally valid, but I think that the entertainment industry should maintain artistic control over situations like this. Perhaps if this comes up again in the future, video game creators can find a way to alter their designs without taking away from the overall look of the building or place?
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