Comment 61818

By Undustrial (registered) - website | Posted April 02, 2011 at 10:55:53

The list of "forbidden activites" on the site makes browsing it seem downright dangerous - if I open a PDF, am I committing a crime? How about if I print it? Save it? What if I copy and paste a bus schedule into an email for a friend?

The internet thrives on linking, copying and sharing. That's what it does, and that's what it is. This policy sounds like it was written in the days of typewriters and lithographs.

As for the enforcement issues, the fact that it has not been enforced doesn't mean it won't. I agree, it probably wouldn't win in court - but that's not the point. The City has large coffers for legal battles - I don't, and neither do most people here. If Ryan, Joey or Jelly were to really irk City Hall, this policy leaves a door open for going after anyone who's touched their website. It's a blank cheque.

Not that I expect them to try such a thing, especially not now (thanks Ryan). What's far more likely is that something actually worrisome may come up (ie: a spyware-ridden HSR scheduling app), and it'll be thrown out out of court thanks to a half-decent lawyer. I would never want to attempt to sue someone with it. What actually constitutes "misuse" of this data, and what doesn't? Repackaging and selling it? Publishing links to embarrassing reports? Where's the line drawn?

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