London Tube Map

[shinerbock]

I'm planning on creating a pastiche of the London Underground map based on sites in my local area. I would use the style and font of the original but with a completely different pattern of lines and 'station' names, and not using the London Underground 'roundel' logo. It would clearly be derivative but not a copy.
Am I breaching TfL's copyright in doing this and, cheekily, would I also be able to assert copyright on my design?
Any advice appreciated.

[AndyJ]

Hi shinerbock,

It sounds from your description as if your pastiche should fall within the new exception (section 30A of the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988) for parody, caricature and pastiche and so it would not infringe TfL's copyright. Using the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnston_ ... ohnston</a> typeface would also be OK as using a typeface, even one subject to copyright, does not infringe that copyright.
And you are probably right to avoid using the underground logo as this is a registered trade mark. Using it in connection with your pastiche might just amount to trade mark infringement.

And yes, your new work would be eligible for copyright protection because it would be an original work, albeit one based in part on an earlier work. You will be joining a select band of artists who have previously produced works which imitate Harry Beck's original concept, among which the best known is possibly David Booth's painting Tate Museum by Tube

[shinerbock]

That's brilliant, Andy. Thanks very much.