WV Assessor Sues to Keep Tax Maps Off the Internet

An anonymous reader writes "After trying to charge $167,488 for their collection of county tax maps (in TIF format), West Virginia was forced by a judge to hand them over for a $20 'reproduction costs' fee. Now a county tax assessor has filed a lawsuit trying to block the tax maps from being put online, claiming copyright infringement and financial damages since fewer people are coming to her to buy paper copies at $8 per page."

Obvious Web 2.0 solution to the revenue loss

[z-j-y]

put contextual ads on those maps.

Ot : The title

[4D6963]

Just wondering, am I the only one stupid enough to think it had to be about Volkswagen upon reading the title? I'm worried.. :-/

Re:OK, it's three things that are certain in life.

[robably]

Death, taxes, and lawsuits. So long as they come in that order, I don't mind.

WV genetics

[HangingChad]

Now a county tax assessor has filed a lawsuit trying to block the tax maps from being put online, claiming copyright infringement and financial damages

She just wasn't thinking big enough. She should have tried to claim copyright on the whole globe. Just think how much money should make on those royalties. That's more money than a fellar could make collecting aluminum cans his whole life.

And that, kids, is why cousins shouldn't get married.

firehisass

[pangu]

Don't you mean fireherass? Oh wait, this is Slashdot, you didn't rtfa.

Paying Fines in Pennies

[syntap]

I wonder if WV will get back at those who pay $2000 fines in pennies by giving this guy the "collection of county tax maps (in TIF format)" in little 3.5" floppy chunks?

Re:Where's the same?

[likes2comment]

She needs to go back to making babies with her cousin in WV.

Re:There shouldn't be any profit involved

[Jesus_666]

So it would be better to get a handgun permit and take that to the employer?

Re:OK, it's three things that are certain in life.

[LrdDimwit]

Most people get sued maybe once in their whole life, but pay taxes every year. I think I know where your trouble with the lawsuits is coming from. You're supposed to pay the taxes, you know ...

Re:OK, it's three things that are certain in life.

[Rude Turnip]

Yeah, but at least the lawsuits are tax-deductible that way.