City transit authorities are fighting back against a notorious non-practicing entity, or patent troll.
"If your city uses civic hacking to create transit apps, be warned: You'll be getting a bill for five figures from Martin Kelly Jones."
"Mr. Jones is a software developer who claims to have invented technology that tracks and issues alerts about scheduled package deliveries or vehicle arrival and departure schedules," explains Mary Jander. "While he has no product of his own to sell, he sues anyone he can find who's developed an app he believes violates his numerous patents."
"That includes public transit authorities, which often issue apps that help users of bus and rail services track scheduling. Some of these are part of civic hacking projects, created by volunteers."
FULL STORY: Cities Hit Back at 'Patent Troll'
Atlanta Launches Regional Transit App
The app streamlines transit information from the region’s sometimes disjointed public transit system, which covers 13 counties.
Real-Time Art Installation Reveals the Many Dimensions of Data
Using a wagon filled with phones, an artist in Berlin demonstrated the disconnect between data and the real world.
Electric Scooters Blast Profanity and Racism After Hacking in Australia
People have found many destructive ways to express their displeasure with electric scooter share, but this is a first.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.
Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.
Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.
MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.
Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie