Copyright Trap

For those of you who read Paper Towns by John Greene, you must already be familiar with this idea. For those who have not, read on. Don't worry, it doesn't spoil anything in terms of plot. 

So when a cartographer designs a map, he/she puts a fake place in it, a place that does not real exist. I mean we could have a philosophical discussion about it but for now this place usually doesn't exist. 

Why would you do that? 

Here is the novel part, when this place comes up on another map then it indicated plagiarism! These non existent places are called Paper Towns (yup just like the book!)  

Ingenious!

This is also done in Encyclopedia, Dictionaries, Telephones directories and many other books that are like guides. This concept is known as a Copyright Trap. So next time Google Maps or a random road map messes with you, don't brush it off as glitch! 

An example quoted in the book was a place called Agloe in New York. I tried to find other more interesting ones. Here is a list for you: 

1. Beatsu and Goblu 

as places on the Ohio- Michigan border

put by the chairman of the State Highway Commission. 

2. Zzzxjoanw 

"a Maori word for drum"

was included in the 1903 Music Lover's Encyclopedia 

3. Lilian Vigirnia Mountweazel, 

was a fountain designer and photographer best known for her collection of American rural mailboxes called Flags Up! 

according to the 1975 New Colombia Encyclopedia 

4. Esquivalience 

"the willful avoidance of one's official responsibilities" 

published in the 2005 edition of the New Oxford Dictionary. 

5. Dog of Norway

 a fake film 

nominated for the Golden Turkey Award. 

The people of the world have a sense of humour after all! 

photo credits: Pintrest 

Yes she is Natalie Portman 

-x-

♪ Somewhere oNly we knoW- Keane ♪