User:Sameboat/MTR concentric ring map
In May 2016, I published this MTR system diagram in concentric ring pattern based on the concept popularized by Maxwell Roberts. I do not deny the reasons I make all these transit diagrams for free are that I have never got the chance to enter the cartographic industry and for the sense of pride and accomplishment, if your effort is recognized, that is. I am fully aware of the risk of my works being plagiarized without proper credit, effectively violating the Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike license. In one particularly case, my maps are used by Chinese real estate agencies because rapid transit always has a very crucial effect on the nearby property values. I let them get away for not removing the CC license remark at the bottom of the map.
Things began to be messed up from June 2016 when my MTR ring map was plagiarized by one of the core members of a local railway enthusiastic group.[1] Initially they denied plagiarism as many netizens defended for them because of misunderstanding the difference between referencing a concept and a complete product. Thankfully I was not entirely alone, Xavier114fch brought up the issue first and people who understood copyright also challenged the morality of this level of "reference." Another admin of the group tried to convince me that their source file in Adobe Illustrator format was different than mine, but the identical file name as my SVG/PDF version only strengthened the proof of plagiarism. Eventually they agreed to attribute my name and license their version under CC-BY-SA. Unfortunately the damage has been done, their map had already received local media coverage before the correction. No local press was willing to update the story about the plagiarism, one content farm also acted like the general public without proper knowledge on copyright and defended for the group.
In November 2017, JaJaWa notified me that a local hotel group derived an alternative from the derivative of that railway enthusiastic group and used in their website for tourist guide. I emailed the Creative Commons organization for opinion on this matter, but the one who answered me was not so sure about my right to claim from the hotel group as the enthusiastic group shares their contribution of their derivative. Knowing how complicated things could turn out if a civil lawsuit is the only way to settle it, from this point, I have lost my faith in the CC-BY-SA license.