Quote:
Originally Posted by Apache
Mapmakers used to put fake streets into their maps to prevent other map makers from just copying theirs. If they found a map that was not theirs it was easy to prove copyright infringement by pointing out the false road.
Apache
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Totally off topic, but what the heck. Fred Worth, the guy who wrote "The Trivia Encyclopedia," tried a similar tactic. He seeded the book with some erroneous info like listing TV detective Columbo's first name as "Philip."
When the makers of the game Trivial Pursuit used that piece of info in the game, he sued for copyright infringement. The decision came down to basically "You dope, you published a reference book full of facts. Using it for info is called 'research.'"
Some people would equate the game maker's defense with "Stealing from one is plagiarism, stealing from many is research."