Sunday, October 25, 2009

Spatial Law and Policy Update (October 25, 2009)

I found this to be a practical approach to using technology to reduce privacy concerns associated with vehicle tracking for businesses.

CNET reports of a case in which a UK court rejected a driver's reliance on his satellite navigation device as a defense to charges he had been "driving without care and attention". According to the article, the lane was so narrow and poorly traveled that a local farmer would not have taken his horse along it.

I think once you read this informative article on the legal complexities (and related disputes) associated with the licensing of spatial data, you will understand why Google's recent announcements regarding its spatial data layers are creating such a buzz in the geospatial community. With that in mind, I suggest the following from Michael Jones of Google.

A simple but powerful example of why even the name of a location can be of such importance on the international stage.

According to this report, proposed legislation in the state of New York would make impose penalties - including jail time - on truckers who strike strike bridges and overpasses while using satellite navigation devices to take alternative routes.