W. Virginia assessor fights effort to put tax maps online

Ars Technica ^ | February 07, 2008 | Ryan Paul

[antiRepublicrat]

The official tax assessor of Kanawha County in West Virginia, Phyllis Gatson, has filed a lawsuit seeking an injunction to block Seneca Technologies from publishing tax maps for the entire state of West Virginia on the Internet. Citing a state law which prohibits individuals from copying and redistributing tax maps without the county tax assessor's permission, one that also enables tax assessors to sell paper copies of the maps for approximately $8 each, Gatson asserts that Seneca's actions constitute copyright infringement and have caused her to suffer financial damages.

[antiRepublicrat]

Tax maps are public record created by the government, not even subject to copyright.

[antiRepublicrat]

The Copyfraud ping: copyright, patent and trademark abuse, and general abuse of laws in the digital age.
If you want on or off the Copyfraud Ping List, Freepmail me.

[DUMBGRUNT]

"For example, does an influential person or company, such as a particular public official or campaign contributor, have land that is assessed at significantly lower value than bordering properties? Can any differences in assessment be explained by differing size of parcel, topographical configuration, and the like?"

[Maelstorm]

What are they afraid of? I hate bureaucrats. I hate the way they think and the way they put the government first in all they do.

[enraged]

Oregon has all their counties on-line. Good resource for a PLS to start researching job info.

[Joe Boucher]

And folks wonder why “crazies” kill govt. bureaucrats?

[Publius6961]

Tax maps are public record created by the government, not even subject to copyright.

I agree; public records should not be a revenue-generator, but a public service provided at cost. Eight bucks for a tax map?
Public servants have degenerated into public masters, with a hundred ways to get into our pockets.

Any county worth a damn will place useful information that the taxpayer has already paid for on line for convenient access by all resident homeowners and taxpayers.

[Maelstorm]

I would never advocate that but I think that ‘government think’ should be aggressively stood up to. They are no there for us to serve and they need to be reminded of it. The sad thing is that ‘crazies’ kill far too many innocent citizens.

[Maelstorm]

You are right. That is the problem. The citizens already have paid for those maps. Why should they have to pay again and again for access to them? I understand if they want a printed copy but I’m sure even that is silly. Who pays for the paper that they are printed on? I’m sure they don’t get funds on project number of maps printed.

[genghis]

my line is dems and republicans both hate government. Government doesn’t work and is terrible. Believing this, dems want more government and republicans want less.
Maybe a little ovesimplified, but basically correct. Which is why if demicrats had any brains, they would be republicans.

[Mark was here]

If this dip wants to earn a living selling maps, he should open a business selling maps.

[Joe Boucher]

Stand up to govt? when ever necessary. Which is often.

[RightWhale]

This might be one of the last to get the tax maps online. Same arguments. Loses every time.

[gjeiii]

The article states:

“The official tax assessor of Kanawha County in West Virginia, Phyllis Gatson” ... “asserts that Seneca’s actions constitute copyright infringement and have caused her to suffer financial damages.:

Does this mean that these employees of “us” pocket the fees?

[glorgau]

From the article:

The tax department was forced to provide the entire collection of maps for a single payment of $20 to compensate it for the total reproduction costs.

Add attachment to email, click send. Boy that's tough.

[penowa]

I can only speak for what is available on the web for Ohio County, WV. If anyone is using anything, they are paying dearly for it. Last I checked it cost $ 150 for access and most of the records had an additional charge. Why would they want someone to put anything on there and give it away?