Taxi Industry Can't Claim Legal Right Over BRT Routes

The taxi industry had claimed last week that because it developed routes along which the country's new bus rapid transit system would run, it owned the intellectual property rights and should therefore be the rightful owner of the new BRT system. However, legal experts counter that claim.

"Transport routes do not constitute subject matter which can be termed intellectual property," said Herman Blignaut, partner at intellectual property specialist Spoor & Fisher.

On Tuesday, the National Taxi Alliance (NTA) said it wanted full ownership of the BRT system because it had developed the routes the BRT system was targeting.

'Taxis have no legal rights'
Independent Online
June 24, 2009