What a contrast: Google uses London open data for tube and bus directions, while Paris public transport operator kills public transport app

This month brought contrasting news on the openness of public transport information in two EU countries. The Telegraph celebrated Google’s mapping service for adding live public transport information and directions. The mobile version of Google Maps has a function that detects a user’s location and that direct him to the nearest tube station or bus stop. Another great function is the alert-function, which warns users to get off their bus or train when they have reached their destination. What’s Google’s secret?

The service relies on Transport for London’s open data platform, which allows developers direct access to data on public transport in the capital, including up-to-date details of roadworks and tube suspensions. Google did not pay for access to the data, which has been freely available since last June.

Around the same time in France, a similar public transport information was killed by the Paris public transport operator (RATP). CheckMyMetro is a free iPhone and Android app that lets French metro users connect to each other and allows them to share information on inter alia incidents and delays. The Paris public transport operator filed a complaint with Apple arguing that the traffic information in the CheckMyMetro app infringed the operator’s database rights. As a result, Apple asked the creator of CheckMyMetro to remove the app from the App Store:

Dear Sirs,

The RATP is a French public company in charge of Public Transports in the Paris area French.
The RATP is the author of the Paris Metro map and the owner of corresponding French design registration (INPI deposit n°06 5325 –Nov. 17th 2006). French and International law on copyright as well as French law on Design thus protect this map. Moreover, the RATP is the owner of the trademark # (INPI deposit n°92402043 – January 21st 1992).

The RATP is concerned with the application “Check my metro” proposed for downloading by the publisher LittleSphere on the App Store and the iTunessince we did not authorize any reproduction or distribution of the said design and trademark.

Moreover, this app embeds the traffic information of our wap site without prior authorization which constitutes an infringement on our rights as producer of database conferred by the French law.

Such reproductions and diffusions may then be considered as counterfeiting acts, and the RATP is entitled to enforce its rights within the French jurisdictions.

Consequently, we ask you to remove the application “Check my metro” by LittleSphere of the App Store and iTunes and to inform the publisher in the same way.

The app is back in the App Store, however, the public transport information has been removed.

Although the French government has started an open data initiative called ETALAB, the Paris public transport information is outside of the realm of the open data initiative because it is in the hands of the public transport operator. The creators of CheckMyMetro, however, are not waiting for the information to be open. They have started their own OpenStreetMap-like project for the Paris Metro at www.checkmymap.fr.

Update, 16:00h: I’ve replaced ‘public transport authority’ with ‘public transport operator‘.