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Thank You Mapquest ! !

By
Real Estate Agent with Bend River Realty Inc.

Some time ago, I contacted Mapquest to obtain permission to use an Oregon Map on my ActiveRain profile page. This turned out to be a much bigger task than I anticipated. The process has taken several months but yesterday, I received my golden ticket....Yea! Mapquest has finally approved me : )

I wanted to share this with all of you because I often run on to blogs or websites that are using maps and photos. I wonder how many of the authors have taken the time to obtain necessary permission or are aware of the fines involved for copyright infringement. This is a serious matter and one that everyone in the blogsphere needs to be aware of.

To give you a better idea, I have included the email I received from Mapquest. Please, please, please....... DO NOT VIOLATE COPYRIGHT LAWS. Not only can you be prosecuted by the owner of said images, copyright infringement can get you kicked off of Active Rain.

May 30, 2007

Dear Ms. Fronabarger,

 

Thank you for your request for permission to include the MapQuest, Inc.map of Oregon on your Active Rain Real Estate Network website for Kelly Fronabarger - Bend River Realty.  We are pleased to approve your request, provided you agree to the conditions listed below.

 

Please reply to this email with such agreement to the terms by stating "We agree" or other similar wording.  This permission will be valid once we receive your reply.

 

MapQuest Permission:

 

MapQuest, Inc. on behalf of itself and its content partners (collectively, "MapQuest") grants Kelli Fronabarger (collectively, "Publisher") a non-exclusive, limited, royalty-free permission to include the MapQuest logo, marks and maps of the Oregon, more specifically, the map and statistical information located at: http://www.mapquest.com/atlas/main.adp?region=oregon and attached to this email for reference (the "Images") on the Active Rain Real Estate Network website for Kelly Fronabarger - Bend River Realty, located at: http://activerain.com/kelli123  (the"Work"), provided Publisher agrees to the following conditions:

 

1. This qualified permission extends only to (i) use of the Images and (ii) use of the Images in the Work. The Images may not be used for any purpose other than as described herein, without MapQuest's prior written consent.

 

2. MapQuest has not authorized, sponsored, endorsed, or approved the Work and is not responsible for its content. Publisher agrees that the Images shall not be used in any manner that would falsely convey sponsorship, endorsement or approval of the Work by MapQuest.

 

3. MapQuest represents that it has the right and authority to enter into this agreement and to grant the rights herein granted, solely with regards to the map submitted for approval.  Publisher is solely responsible for any liability arising from its use of the content in contradiction of or beyond the terms of this agreement, and Publisher agrees to defend and indemnify MapQuest from any third party claims arising from any such use by Publisher.

 

4. Publisher shall not modify or alter the Images in any manner unless approved in advance by MapQuest.  The MapQuest logo and all copyright attribution provided in the map art must be retained by Publisher. 

 

5. Publisher shall not use or display the Images or any MapQuest trademark, logo, or trade name in conjunction with any offensive material, in a derogatory manner, or in any manner not suitable for the intended audience.

 

6. The following attribution, or similar, shall be included in an appropriate location in the Work: MapQuest and the MapQuest logo are registered trademarks of MapQuest, Inc.  Map content (c) 2007 by MapQuest, Inc.  Used with permission."

 

Please let me know by return email if Publisher agrees to the above.

 

We appreciate your interest in MapQuest.

 

Regards,

Amanda Smith

MapQuest Permission Team

 

As you can see, permission and use are taken very seriously by MapQuest and many others. It is better to ask and be told "no" than to take a chance and be caught. Anyone who thinks it's not a big deal should talk to Lenn Harley. Taking the time to do this right benefits everyone. I am extremely proud of my profile page and feel that this addition of information makes it even better for my clients.

 

Comments (16)

Cyndee Haydon
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL
727-710-8035 Clearwater, Beach Short Sales Luxury Condos &Homes
Wow Kelli - thanks for sharing - great point and great idea!
May 31, 2007 09:03 AM
Ashley Drake Gephart
Drake Intel Group - Albuquerque, NM
Kelli that is great that you did it the right way and now you can have it on your site. Thank you for pointing out A) that everyone needs to get permission and B) that mapquest is willing to do so.
May 31, 2007 09:10 AM
Herb Hamilton
RE/MAX Preferred Inc. Realtors - Portland, OR
Real Estate Broker ,CDPE, Downtown Portland

Great Information Kelli. I can't imagine what the rules would have been if you had requested a Loan .

May 31, 2007 09:11 AM
Teri Eckholm
Boardman Realty - White Bear Lake, MN
REALTOR Serving Mpls/St Paul North & East Metro
Kelli--It is so important to read the fine print on a site to see if it is ok to use photos...Many times if you email a request and offer a backlink, webmasters are more than willing to share the photos...as long as they are being used in a positive way. I too have contacted site owners to request photo and information use. Sometimes the answer is no and you must respect the site owner's wishes.
May 31, 2007 10:20 AM
Thesa Chambers
West + Main - Bend, OR
Principal Broker - Licensed in Oregon
That's my friend and fellow Oregonian - wtg Kelli - you certainly stand above the rest!  I am proud to say we work in the same area. 
May 31, 2007 01:45 PM
Stephanie Edwards-Musa
thredUP.com - The Woodlands, TX
knitwit at thred UP
Good Job Kelli!  That's awesome!
May 31, 2007 02:03 PM
Tina Howell
RE/MAX DFW Associates VI - Little Elm, TX
Little Elm & Frisco Area Real Estate
Thanks for the very important reminder Kelli.  This is a great example the Active Rain Community should follow.   Congrats. on seeing the task through.
Jun 01, 2007 01:15 AM
Dianne Barody
Century 21 AmeriSouth Realty - Pensacola, FL
Pensacola Florida Real Estate
Kelli:  Thank you for sharing this valuable information.
Jun 01, 2007 06:06 AM
Paula Henry
Home to Indy Team @ HomeSmart Realty Group - Avon, IN
Realtor - Indianapolis Real Estate - 317-605-4174
Congrats Kelli - Looks like the wait was worth it!
Jun 02, 2007 01:16 PM
Missy Caulk
Missy Caulk TEAM - Ann Arbor, MI
Savvy Realtor - Ann Arbor Real Estate
Kelli, thanks for letting us all know this..........good information !
Jun 04, 2007 05:53 AM
Anonymous
concerned
Didn't  mapquest give wrong directions this past winter, stranding a family on a non paved roadwhich lead to the death of the father, in Oregon???
Jun 04, 2007 08:07 AM
#11
LaShon James-Major
The Document Diva - Long Beach, CA
Long Beach Mobile Notary - 562.314.4319
Thanks for the heads up. This is something I never considered.
Jun 04, 2007 08:26 AM
Portland Oregon Real Estate | Alecia Barnes - Broker
Portland, OR
Thanks so much for the information, I am always careful to make sure I'm not using something without permission, and btw, congratulations on passing the 50K mark!
Jun 07, 2007 05:36 AM
Thesa Chambers
West + Main - Bend, OR
Principal Broker - Licensed in Oregon

Kelli did you figure out your google after all the changes?

Jun 07, 2007 06:59 PM
Karen Hurst
RICOASTALLIVING.COM - Warwick, RI
Rhode Island Waterfront!
Kelli, You "should" be proud of you Profile. You have reams of links in there, its almost a website! Great work. Now don't be modifying those maps:)
Jun 09, 2007 04:03 PM
Marc Blasi
Palm Beach Gardens, FL

Kelli-

I give you a lot of credit for wanting to do things the legal way!

However, IMHO, Mapquest is the LAST place I would go for directions - I have gotten incorrect directions from then SO many times - it's just ridiculous.

Jun 10, 2007 03:14 AM